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Additional information (Wiki):
The Green swordtail (Xiphophorus
hellerii) is a species of freshwater
fish in family Poeciliidae of order
Cyprinodontiformes. A live-bearer, it is
closely related to the southern
platyfish or "platy" (X. maculatus) and
can interbreed with it. It is native to
an area of North and Central America
stretching from Veracruz, Mexico, to
northwestern Honduras.
The male green swordtail grows to a
maximum overall length of 14cm (5.5in)
and the female to 16 cm (6.3 in). The
name "swordtail" is derived from the
elongated lower lobe of the male's
caudal fin (tailfin). Sexual dimorphism
is moderate, with the female being
larger than the male but lacking the "sword".
The wild form is olive green in color,
with a red or brown lateral stripe and
speckles on the dorsal and, sometimes,
caudal fins. The male's "sword" is
yellow, edged in black below. Captive
breeding has produced many color
varieties, including black, red, and
many patterns thereof, for the aquarium
hobby.
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