Bony fish · Cyprinodontiformes · Poeciliidae

Southern Platyfish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Data Deficient

There is not enough information to assess its risk of extinction. See full glossary

Xiphophorus maculatus, commonly known as the platy, is a fish of the family Poeciliidae in the order Cyprinodontiformes. They are found in the Americas, from the state of Veracruz in Mexico to northern Belize. They are very popular fish in the aquarium world, since they need no special care and have an exceptional capacity to breed, as do other species of the same family such as guppies and mollies.

Size

4 cm – 6 cm

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

FreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal Fish Freshwater

10countries4same family

Fun facts

GeneralOne of the easiest aquarium fish to breed; there are dozens of colour varieties.
Crosses between this species and the swordtail produce offspring that systematically develop melanomas, and that system, described in the 1920s, was the first animal model of inherited cancer and is still used in research.
It is viviparous: the female gives birth to free-swimming young and can store sperm to produce several broods from a single mating.
It is live-bearing: the female gives birth to fully formed young and can raise broods of up to 80 fry.
It has three sex chromosomes, W, X and Y, which interact with autosomal genes to give one of the most complex sex-determination systems known in any vertebrate.
It has been released in at least eighteen countries through aquarium releases.

Life cycle & biology

Habitat & environment: Tropical ponds, canals and slow rivers
Sexual maturity: Length at first maturity 2.8 cm (range 1-4.2 cm); between 3 and 4 months old
Gestation / incubation: 4-6 weeks of internal gestation
Litter / clutch size: From 20 to 80 young per litter

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiphophorus_maculatus