Stats

Lifespan

2-5 years

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

North America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Live Birth

Defense

Speed

Status

Rare

About

This bright orange fish inhabits slow-moving rivers in Mexico and Belize. It gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs in the water.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Cyprinodontiformes

Family

Poeciliidae

Genus

Xiphophorus

Species

Xiphophorus maculatus