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Southern platyfish
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<p>The southern platyfish, common platy, or moonfish (<i>Xiphophorus maculatus</i>) is a <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> of <a href="/facts/Freshwater_fish/zqcg3Hmy">freshwater fish</a> in <a href="/facts/Family_(biology)/qTrn6E8E">family</a> <a href="/facts/Poeciliidae/DmRxVKUo">Poeciliidae</a> of <a href="/facts/Order_(biology)/GKLJvIpt">order</a> <a href="/facts/Cyprinodontiformes/YSTTuR0m">Cyprinodontiformes</a>. A <a href="/facts/Live-bearing_aquarium_fish/QxjlQWTp">live-bearer</a>, it is closely related to the <a href="/facts/Green_swordtail/PyMrXI4S">green swordtail</a> (<i>X. hellerii</i>) and can interbreed with it. It is native to an area of North and Central America stretching from <a href="/facts/Veracruz/jt5rM0VK">Veracruz</a>, <a href="/facts/Mexico/IT5bwhdh">Mexico</a>, to northern <a href="/facts/Belize/2xVuhCTt">Belize</a>. </p><p>The southern platyfish grows to a maximum overall length of 6.0 centimetres (2.4 in). <a href="/facts/Sexual_dimorphism/nx9wulFy">Sexual dimorphism</a> is slight, the male's <a href="/facts/Caudal_fin/kS10PMPf">caudal fin</a> being more pointed. The <a href="/facts/Fish_fin/kS10PMPf">anal fin</a> of the male fish has evolved into a <a href="/facts/Fish_fin/kS10PMPf">gonopodium</a>, a stick-shaped organ used for <a href="/facts/Reproduction/nNu0F5Dy">reproduction</a>. The female southern platyfish's anal fin is fan shaped. Wild varieties are drab in <a href="/facts/Coloration_evidence_for_natural_selection/AUJP0UNe">coloration</a>, lacking the distinctive dark lateral line common to many <i>Xiphophorus</i> species. </p><p><i>X. <a href="/facts/List_of_Latin_and_Greek_words_commonly_used_in_systematic_names/PE94tEpa">maculatus</a></i> prefers slow-moving waters of canals, ditches, and warm springs. <a href="/facts/Omnivore/b8zcsuJF">Omnivorous</a>, its diet includes both plants and small <a href="/facts/Crustacean/PBobIVJP">crustaceans</a>, <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insects</a>, and <a href="/facts/Annelid/PQvb7NAM">annelid</a> worms. </p><p>Breeders have developed a multitude of color varieties (e.g. orange, red, yellow, red/black, and black/white) which are common <a href="/facts/Aquarium/vM9WdGKC">aquarium</a> fish for hobbyists. </p><p>The southern platyfish is commonly known simply as the <a href="/facts/Platypus/tf9536jb">platy</a> (pl. platys or platies), from the fish's original <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">generic</a> name, <i>Platypoecilus</i>. </p>