Southern platyfish
📖 Overview
Adults occur in warm springs, canals and ditches with typically slow-moving water, silt bottoms and weedy banks. Also inhabit creeks and swamps . They feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. Used for genetic research . Several color varieties are popular aquarium fishes, where they attain sexual maturity after 3-4 months and reproduce easily . Aquarium keeping: minimum aquarium size 60 cm .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 10. Distinct line of black pigment midventrally on caudal peduncle absent. Greatest body depth about 2 times in SL. Ventral rays of caudal fin of males not elongated into a sword. Male gonopodium falling short of caudal fin base, without a membranous protuberance, third ray with a strong hook .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Southern platyfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
After 24 to 30 days gestation, 20 to 80 young are born (Ref 7020).
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19; non-migratory . Tropical; 18°C - 25°C ; 23°N - 17°N, 99°W - 86°W North and Central America: Ciudad Veracruz, Mexico to northern Belize.
🌿 Ecology
worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter (Refs
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🚨 Invasive Species Impact
- competition with native species
- habitat modification
- management and control costs
- fishery impacts in some areas
Prevention of further spread through import bans, targeted removal in sensitive areas.
Monitoring and containment programs in place.
References: Compiled from IUCN Global Invasive Species Database, USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database, and CABI Invasive Species Compendium.
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Gold Twinbar Platy · Green Lantern Platy · Moonfish · platy · Southern Platy · Southern Platyfish |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | سمك المبطح الجنوبي · سمك بلاتي الجنوبي · سمكة القمر |
| 🌍CES | plata skvrnitá |
| 🇩🇪German | Spiegelkärpfling |
| 🇫🇷French | Platy |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Sazampurateifuisshu · サザンプラティフィッシュ · プラティ · ムーンフィッシュ |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Zmienniak plamisty |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Пецилия красная |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | espada sureña · Platy arcoíris |
| 🌍THA | ปลาพลาตี้ · ปลาสอดกุหลาบ · ปลาเพลตี้ |
| 🌍TUR | Hilal balığı · Plati |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 紅劍 · 紅太陽 · 花斑劍尾魚 · 花斑劍尾魚(滿魚) |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platypoecilus aurata | Stoye | 1935 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus cyanellus | Meinken | 1935 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus maculatus | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus maculatus aurata | Stoye | 1935 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus maculatus cyanellus | Meinken | 1935 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus maculatus maculatus | - | - | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus maculatus sanguinea | Stoye | 1935 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus nigra | Brind | 1914 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus pulchra | Brind | 1914 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus rubra | Brind | 1914 | Synonym |
| Platypoecilus sanguinea | Stoye | 1935 | Synonym |
| Poecilia maculata | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
| Xiphorus helleri maculatus | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
| Xiphorus maculatus | Günther | 1866 | Synonym |
🦠 Common Diseases
The following diseases are known to affect Southern platyfish.
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 74 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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