Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes (gen., sp.) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) > Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) > Poeciliidae (Poeciliids) > Poeciliinae
Etymology: Xiphophorus: Greek, xiphos = sword + Greek, pherein = to carry (Ref. 45335).

Environment / Climate / Range Ecology

Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19; non-migratory. Tropical; 18°C - 25°C (Ref. 1672), preferred ?; 23°N - 17°N, 99°W - 86°W

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

North and Central America: Ciudad Veracruz, Mexico to northern Belize. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ?, range 1 - 4.2 cm
Max length : 4.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 57749); 6.0 cm TL (female); common length : 2.4 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 12193)

Short description Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-10. Distinct line of black pigment midventrally on caudal peduncle absent. Greatest body depth about 2 times in SL. Ventral rays of caudal fin of males not elongated into a sword. Male gonopodium falling short of caudal fin base, without a membranous protuberance, third ray with a strong hook (Ref. 30499).

Adults occur in warm springs, canals and ditches with typically slow-moving water, silt bottoms and weedy banks (Refs. 5723; 44091, 44894). Also inhabit creeks and swamps (Ref. 44894). Feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Refs. 7020; 44091). Used for genetic research (Ref. 4537). Several color varieties are popular aquarium fishes, where they attain sexual maturity after 3-4 months and reproduce easily (Ref. 1672). Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 60 cm (Ref. 51539).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

After 24 to 30 days gestation, 20 to 80 young are born (Ref 7020).

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Rodriguez, C.M., 1997. Phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Poeciliini (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae). Copeia 1997(4):663-679. (Ref. 26855)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 115185)

Not Evaluated

CITES (Ref. 94142)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

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Internet sources

Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866)