Xiphophorus continens explained

Xiphophorus continens, also known as El Quince swordtail or short-sword platyfish, is a live-bearing freshwater fish in the family Poeciliidae.^[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, meaning "sword". due to the species' sword size in males.^[1]

Description

X. continens reaches up to 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 . 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.

Further reading

• Reproductive behaviour: McLennan. Deborah A.. Ryan. Michael J.. Female swordtails, Xiphophorus continens, prefer the scent of heterospecific males. Animal Behaviour. 75. 5. 2008. 1731–1737. 0003-3472. 10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.10.030. 40184267. ; pdf: http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/ryan/Publications/2008/2008AnimBeh75%201731.pdf

External links

• ADW entry
• ITIS entry

Notes and References

1. Rauchenberger, Mary, Klaus D. Kallman, and Donald C. Morizot. "Monophyly and geography of the Río Pánuco Basin swordtails (genus Xiphophorus) with descriptions of four new species". American Museum Novitates; no. 2975. (1990).
2. Web site: Xiphophorus continens . FishBase . 31 Mar 2013.