Xiphophorus maculatus (Gunther, 1866)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 771-772

Xiphophorus maculatus

Common name. Platy.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Poeciliidae in West Asia by: ● body very short and deep / ● dorsal in male and female equally long, its origin slightly behind pelvic origin / ○ gonopodium short / ○ dorsal and caudal without black spots / ○ flank colour very variable but similar in male and female, often red or blueish / ○ no lateral stripe / ○ pelvic of male modified, tip of first ray enlarged, different in male and female / ○ male without sword-like prolongation on caudal. Size up to 45 mm SL.

Distribution . Saudi Arabia: Wadi Haneefah in Riyadh; Al-Kharj and Layla Aflaj south of Riyadh; and Al-Ahsa oasis. Türkiye: İnönü spring in upper Sakarya. Native from about Ciudad Veracruz, Mexico, east to northern Belize. Has established few non-native populations, for example, in Australia.

Habitat. Springs, streams, and canals, usually with slow-flowing water and dense aquatic vegetation.

Biology. Females reach sexual maturity between 5–16 weeks and at about 18 mm SL; 3–92, usually 15–30, young are born after a gestation period of 24–30 days. Breeding intervals often longer than gestation period as species can store sperm. Capable of year-round reproduction given favorable water temperatures. Some males mature early, often after 5 weeks, others mature much later; maturation strategy is genetically determined. Platy is a model organism in cancer cell genetics and hybridisation research. Feeds mainly on algae, detritus, and small invertebrates.

Conservation status. Non-native; released from aquaria.

Remarks. Several colour varieties are popular aquarium fishes.

Further reading. Milton & Arthington 1983 (biology); Ross 1985 (introduction, distribution); Miller 2005 (distribution, identification); Freyhof et al. 2020 (distribution in Arabia); Aksu et al. 2021 (record in Sakarya).

Figures

Xiphophorus maculatus

Distribution