Xiphophorus birchmanni Lechner & Radda 1987

Photo courtesy of Ivan Dibble

Meaning of Name

After one of the collectors H.Birchmann.

First Description

P.Lechner & A.C.Radda 1987.

Revision des Xiphophorus montezumae / cortezi Komplexes und Neubeschreibung einer Sunspezies. St.Gallen, Switzerland.
Aquaria 34: p 189 - 196.
Size

Males 50 mm. Females 50 mm.
Meristics

Karyotype

Sub-Genus

Group

Member of the group comprising alvarezi, birchmanni, continens, cortezi, helleri, malinche, montezumae, multilineatus, nezahualcoyotl, nigrensis, pygmaeus & signum.
Clade: cortezi.
Synonyms
  • Xiphophorus montezumae birchmanni Lechner & Radda 1987

Populations

  • Rio Calabozo

Photo courtesy of Ivan Dibble

 

 
Type Locality

Rio Talol, Hidalgo State, Mexico. This is in the headwater of the Rio San Pedro which feeds the Rio Tempoal on to the Rio Panuco.
Holotype was a male at 60 mm.
Distribution

The southern area of the Rio Panuco drainage & headwaters of the Rio Tuxpan.
Habitat

Sympatric in certain areas with X.cortezi at higher elevations & X.malinche at lower elevations.
Distinguishing Characteristics The large humped back. Males especialy have broad vertical bands on the flanks. Swords are either very small or lacking alltogether.
Colour/Pattern Variability
History

Collected by P.Lechner & H.Birchmann 27th April 1987.
Breeding Notes

Brood sizes are around 30 for a good sized female. Brood cycle is around 28 days.
Remarks

A shy sp. preferring the rear of the tank.
They can be housed as a family group.