Biology:Xiphophorus cortezi

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Short description: Species of fish

Delicate swordtail
Xiphophorus cortezi.jpg
Male (top) and female (bottom)
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Poeciliidae
Genus: Xiphophorus
Species:
X. cortezi
Binomial name
Xiphophorus cortezi
D. E. Rosen, 1960

Xiphophorus cortezi, the delicate swordtail, is a species of poeciliid fish from Mexico.[2]

Named after the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, Xiphophorus cortezi was originally described in 1960 by Donn Eric Rosen as a subspecies of X. montezumae. It was well known in literature prior to the formal scientific description. The smaller males of X. cortezi are similar to the larger males of X. nigrensis, pointing to a close evolutionary relationship with this species too.[2]

Adult size is variable and averages about 30 mm in standard length. The color of the male, especially the midlateral stripe, depends on the excitement of the fish and background shade of its environment. Some specimens kept in the laboratory for years have shown such silvery coloring that black markings became absent. Different patterns of black spots on the tail exist.[2]

Xiphophorus cortezi is found in the upper Rio Panuco system in northeastern Mexico. Two congeners, X. pygmaeus and X. variatus, are found in the same section of Rio Axtla, a tributary of Rio Panuco, but the species are nearly always separated into different ecological niches.[2]

References

  1. Daniels, A.; Maiz-Tome, L. (2019). "Xiphophorus cortezi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T191778A2002897. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T191778A2002897.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/191778/2002897. Retrieved 14 June 2023. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Donn Eric Rosen (1960). "Middle-American poeciliid fishes of the genus Xiphophorus". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum. Biological Sciences (University of Florida) 5 (4): 98, 103. 

Wikidata ☰ Q3764497 entry