Hong Kong Biodiversity Database

Hong Kong Biodiversity Database

General Information

Xiphophorus hellerii Swordtail
Animal Group:	Freshwater Fish
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cyprinodontiformes
Family:	Poeciliidae
Description:	Similar to P. reticulata, Swordtail is one of the most popular aquarium fishes. It has a small pointed head and an elongated body. The male is characterized by the presence of a long and sword-shaped protrusion at its lower caudal fin. The fish has many colour forms; the general body colour is either olive-green or orange-red and fading to yellow on the belly.

Conservation Status

AFCD Assessment

Common

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Status

Least Concern

Distribution

Distribution in Hong Kong Occurs in large numbers in many local freshwater streams, rivers and ponds. Global Distribution Native to Central America and Africa and has been introduced throughout the world as an aquarium fish.

Photo Gallery

References

More on Freshwater Fish in HK

Lam, K. S. (2002). Freshwater Fish in Hong Kong. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong.

Lee, V. L. F., Lam, S. K. S., Ng, F. K. Y., Chan, T. K. T. and Young, M. L. C. (2004). Field Guide to the Freshwater Fish of Hong Kong.Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Friends of the Country Parks and Cosmos Books Ltd., Hong Kong