Variable platyfish
| Variable platyfish | |
|---|---|
| An ornamental strain male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Genus: | Xiphophorus |
| Species: | X. variatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Xiphophorus variatus (Meek, 1904)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Platypoecilus variatus Meek, 1904 | |
The variable platyfish (Xiphophorus variatus), also known as variatus platy or variegated platy, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Poeciliidae of the order Cyprinodontiformes. A livebearer, it is native to southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz states in northeastern Mexico. Due to its prolific breeding, it is a popular fish in the aquarium trade, as are hybrids with other members of its genus, most notably the southern platyfish.