Xiphophorus continens
Xiphophorus continens | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
Family: | Poeciliidae |
Genus: | Xiphophorus |
Species: | X. continens |
Binomial name | |
Xiphophorus continens Rauchenberger et al., 1990 | |
Xiphophorus continens, also known as El Quince swordtail or short-sword platyfish, is a live bearing freshwater fish in the Poeciliidae family.[1] It is endemic to the Pánuco River basin in east-central Mexico.[2] Its name comes from the Greek conto, meaning short, and Latin ensis, meanin "sword". due to the species' sword size in males.[1]
Description
X. continens reaches up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in total length.[2] It is a small, slender species, with a slender caudal peduncle and with a midlateral stripe. The maximum length of the sword is 1 mm (0.04 in). It has a hook on its gonopodium; distal serrae; its grave spot, when present, is only visible under 10X magnification; no xanthophore or pterinophore pigment patterns.[1]
Distribution
Headwaters of the Rio Ojo Frio, north of Damian Carmona, Pánuco River drainage, San Luis Potosí.
References
Further reading
- Reproductive behaviour: McLennan, Deborah A.; Ryan, Michael J. (2008). "Female swordtails, Xiphophorus continens, prefer the scent of heterospecific males". Animal Behaviour. 75 (5): 1731–1737. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.10.030. ISSN 0003-3472. ; pdf: http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/ryan/Publications/2008/2008AnimBeh75%201731.pdf
External links