Xiphophorus

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Xiphophorus:
This article is about the fish genus. For the free software foundation, see Xiph.Org Foundation.

Xiphophorus is a genus of euryhaline and freshwater fishes in the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The many Xiphophorus species are all called either platyfish (or platies) or swordtails. The type species is X. hellerii, the green swordtail. Platyfish and swordtails are live-bearers, meaning that they reproduce via internal fertilization. The name Xiphophorus derives from the Greek words ξίφος (dagger) and φόρος (bearer), referring to the gonopodium.

The various Xiphophorus species are native to areas of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and especially Mexico. All small fishes, which reach maximum lengths of 3.5–16 cm (1.4–6.3 in) depending on the exact species.[1] Three species and their hybrids are common in the aquarium trade: the green swordtail (X. hellerii), the southern platyfish (X. maculatus) and the variable platyfish (X. variatus). IUCN lists two Xiphophorus species, the marbled swordtail (X. meyeri) and the northern platyfish (X. gordoni), as Endangered, while the Monterrey platyfish (X. couchianus) is listed as Critically Endangered.



Human uses[edit]

Xiphophorus species are regularly used in genetic studies, and scientists have developed many interspecific hybrids.[2] The Xiphophorus Genetic stock center, founded by Myron Gordon in 1939, is an important source of these fish for research.[3]

In addition, several species are commonly kept by aquarium hobbyists, especially X. helleri, X. maculatus, and X. variatus. In fact, these are a key category in fishkeeping, a group of extremely hardy livebearing fish, along with the molly and guppy, that adapt to almost any water conditions, from cold to tropical, freshwater to fully marine. Unlike some species, these are available almost completely as captive-raised, because of the ease with which they breed.

Species[edit]


Female Xiphophorus maculatus.

The currently recognized species in this genus, according to FishBase, are:[1] but see.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2012). Species of Xiphophorus in FishBase. August 2012 version.
  2. ^ http://www.xiphophorus.txstate.edu/stockcenter/galleries/hybrid.html
  3. ^ http://www.xiphophorus.txstate.edu/about/introduction.html
  4. ^ a b c H. R. Axelrod & L. Wischnath, 1991[full citation needed]
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
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Sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xiphophorus&oldid=636554966

Statistics of barcoding coverage:

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
Specimen Records:184
Specimens with Sequences:141
Specimens with Barcodes:131
Species:12
Species With Barcodes:11
Public Records:58
Public Species:9
Public BINs:8

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorSujeevan Ratnasingham, Paul D.N. Hebert, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)
Sourcehttp://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=23585

Barcode data:

Access Published & Released Data: Download FASTA File

Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorSujeevan Ratnasingham, Paul D.N. Hebert, Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD)
Sourcehttp://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=23585

Platy (fish):

Platy is a common name for two related species of freshwater fish in the genus Xiphophorus. Both species are livebearers, similar to other fish of the family Poeciliidae, such as the guppy and molly. Platies are native to the east coast of Central America and southern Mexico.[1][2]

The two species, the southern platyfish and the variatus platy, have been interbred to the point where they are difficult to distinguish. Most platies now sold in aquariums are hybrids of both species.[2]



Southern platyfish[edit]

Main article: Southern platyfish

The southern platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) grows to a maximum overall length of 7.0 cm (2.4 in). Sexual dimorphism is slight, the male's caudal fin being more pointed. The anal fin of the male fish has evolved into a gonopodium, a stick-shaped organ used for reproduction. The female southern platyfish's anal fin is fan-shaped. Wild varieties are drab in coloration, lacking the distinctive dark lateral line common to many Xiphophorus species.

Variatus platy[edit]

Main article: Variatus platy

The variatus platy (Xiphophorus variatus) grows to a maximum overall length of 7.0 cm (2.8 in). In the wild they are olive in color with black marbling or spots on the side of the caudal peduncle. Large males show blackish blotches on the dorsal fin. Unlike some other members of the genus, X. variatus has no claw at the tip of the fifth anal fin ray. The fourth pectoral ray shows well-developed serrae (i.e. saw-like notches). They typically have 20 to 24 lateral scales, 10 to 12 dorsal rays and two rows of jaw teeth.[3]

Aquaria[edit]

This particular fish is widely used in tropical aquaria. There are several different colors of platy available. It is considered easy to care for, thus a good starting point for beginners. They are common in community tanks because of their hardiness and non-aggressive nature. They are, however susceptible to diseases like fish TB.


Variant of Blue Wagtail


2 Female Mickey Mouse Platy


Female Sunburst Wag Platy


Variant of 24 Karat Gold Platy - Male

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Platy, Platies - Xiphophorus maculatus". FishLore.com. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
  2. ^ a b "Platies - Moonfish, Variegated Platy, Variatus Platy". Animal-World. Retrieved 2010-07-24. 
  3. ^ Page, Lawrence M.; Burr, Brooks M. (1991). A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes. New York: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-91091-9. 
Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Rights holder/AuthorWikipedia
Sourcehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Platy_(fish)&oldid=603488525
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith