I 



Notes on the Hybrid 

 Xiphopnorus helleri x Platypoecilus maculatus 



F. S. CURTIS, San Francisco Aquarium Society 



The Poecilid Hybrid, Xiphophorus helleri x Platypoecilus maculatus 



From time to time articles have ap- 

 peared in aquarium periodicals giving 

 rather brief and general descriptions of 

 this most beautiful and interesting hy- 

 brid. The writers, however, seem to have 

 confined their remarks to examples that 

 were strongly marked as hybrids, saying 

 little of those reverting to the original 

 forms and nol showing composite char- 

 acteristics. It occurs to me, therefore, 

 that my experience in breeding these hy- 

 brids, and that of Mr. F. S. Locke, mav 



be of general interest. 



Aquarists are well aware that both the 

 paternal Platypoecilus maculatus and 

 the maternal Xiphophorus helleri belong 

 to the viviparous branch of the family 

 Poeciliidae or killifishes. There are two 

 very distinct forms of X. helleri, one 

 which is of a general bluish cast with 

 little or no orange or yellow in the lateral 

 stripe and tail, and another which is 

 much more brightly colored, having a 

 deep orange-red lateral stripe with a clear 



