Southern Platyfish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Fish Reaching Four Centimeters in Mexican Waters

Tropical
Regional distribution
Freshwater fish
Central America and the Caribbean
North America
Fusiform
Small
Tropical fish

The southern platyfish, common platy, or moonfish (Xiphophorus maculatus) is a species of freshwater fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the green swordtail (X. hellerii) and can interbreed with it. It is native to an area of North and Central America stretching from Veracruz, Mexico, to northern Belize.

Class: Teleosts
Order: Killifishes and Livebearers
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Xiphophorus
Maximum length: 4 cm
Water: Freshwater
Body shape: fusiform
Distribution: North and Central America: Ciudad Veracruz, Mexico to northern Belize. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.
Conservation status: DDData Deficient

Report a correction