Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Poeciliidae (Poeciliids) > Poeciliinae
Etymology: Xiphophorus: Greek, xiphos = sword + Greek, pherein = to carry (Ref. 45335); monticolus: Name derived from Latin for a dweller in the mountains, referring to the species' restricted range to headwater streams inside the Sierra Madre.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; depth range 2 - 3 m (Ref. 52914). Tropical
North America: Mexico.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 52914); 6.4 cm SL (female)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
A species characterized by a longer caudal appendage, sword index 0.25; fainter orange stripes that fade in older individuals and pronounced melanophore pigmentation at the edges of the dorsal and ventral sword margins (in males) (Ref. 52914).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.
This species occurs sympatrically with X. mixei and apparently prefers deeper pools; in rapidly flowing river with boulders and riffles (Ref. 52914).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kallman, K.D., R.B. Walter, D.C. Morizot and S. Kazianis, 2004. Two new species of Xiphophorus (Poeciliidae) from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, with a discussion of the distribution of the X. clemenciae clade. Am. Mus. Novit. 3441:1-34. (Ref. 52914)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01023 (0.00454 - 0.02306), b=3.14 (2.95 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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