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The Ethological Significance of the Sword-Tail in Xiphophor Us Hellerii (Haekel)

The Ethological Significance of the Sword-Tail in Xiphophor Us Hellerii (Haekel) THE ETHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SWORD-TAIL IN XIPHOPHOR US HELLERII (HAEKEL) by J. HEMENS 1)2) (Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, South Africa) (With 3 Figures) (Rec. 4-II-1g66) INTRODUCTION Xiphophorus hellerii, popularly known as the Sword-tail, is a small cypri- nodont fish belonging to the Poeciliidae (live-bearing tooth-carps), and is indigenous to Mexico. The members of the genus Xiphophor.us have become very popular aqua- rium fishes and a number of colourful varieties have been established by selective breeding. Some of these new varieties have resulted from hybridiza- tion between the Sword-tails and other members of the genus such as the Platifish, X. ??2aculatus. Due to such hybridization it is now impossible to be entirely certain of the species of aquarium-reared Sword-tails unless the breeding history is known. Xiphophorus hellerii shows marked sexual dimorphism in that the male develops a gonopodium by specialization of the anal fin and, in the mature fish, has the lower third of the caudal fin extended into a tapering spike or "sword-tail". This investigation was undertaken to determine whether this distinctive appendage has ethological significance for the species. A necessary preliminary approach was to first determine the normal behaviour patterns of the sexes http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Behaviour Brill

The Ethological Significance of the Sword-Tail in Xiphophor Us Hellerii (Haekel)

Hemens, J.
Behaviour , Volume 27 (1-2): 290 – Jan 1, 1966
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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1966 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0005-7959
eISSN
1568-539X
DOI
10.1163/156853966X00191
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

THE ETHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SWORD-TAIL IN XIPHOPHOR US HELLERII (HAEKEL) by J. HEMENS 1)2) (Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, South Africa) (With 3 Figures) (Rec. 4-II-1g66) INTRODUCTION Xiphophorus hellerii, popularly known as the Sword-tail, is a small cypri- nodont fish belonging to the Poeciliidae (live-bearing tooth-carps), and is indigenous to Mexico. The members of the genus Xiphophor.us have become very popular aqua- rium fishes and a number of colourful varieties have been established by selective breeding. Some of these new varieties have resulted from hybridiza- tion between the Sword-tails and other members of the genus such as the Platifish, X. ??2aculatus. Due to such hybridization it is now impossible to be entirely certain of the species of aquarium-reared Sword-tails unless the breeding history is known. Xiphophorus hellerii shows marked sexual dimorphism in that the male develops a gonopodium by specialization of the anal fin and, in the mature fish, has the lower third of the caudal fin extended into a tapering spike or "sword-tail". This investigation was undertaken to determine whether this distinctive appendage has ethological significance for the species. A necessary preliminary approach was to first determine the normal behaviour patterns of the sexes

Journal

Behaviour – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1966

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