File:Aquatic life (1916-1917) (19747194115).jpg

Title: Aquatic life
Identifier: aquaticlife219161917baus (find matches)
Year: 1916-1917 (1910s)
Authors: Bausman, Joseph E
Subjects: Aquariums; Fish culture
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. E. Bausman
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
^iae Mexican S^vorcltails WALTER LAKfNOY BRIND. F. Z. S. i WATER COLOR BY A. DESCHERMEIER
Text Appearing After Image:
Mexican Swordtail XiphopKorus Kelleri Courtesj) of tKe CKicago Aquarium Societp Probably no "tropical fish," as we use the term, is better known to all of us than the Mexican Swordtail, otherwise Xiphophorus helleri. Under this name the fish with the markings and coloration of the illustration above was introduced into Germany in the spring of 1909—a single specimen. A little later more were received and bred in large quantities, the price of a pair dropping rapidly from $12.50 to $1.50, a price approximately its present value in the United States today. This fish made a bigger "hit" in Germany than any other aquarium fish before or since. Its beautiful colors and the ease with which it could be propagated by the veriest amateur attracted attention at once. During my stay in Berlin in 1910 I secured a pair, paying, if I remember right, about six marks. At that time no other species or variety of swordtail was known in Germany. Meckel described Xiphophorus hcllcri, but, according to Professor Regan, of the British Museum, to whom the Germans formerly sent all new fishes for identifi- cation, the fish introduced was not X. helleri, but X. Guentheri. The dififer- ence between these two varieties lies in such fine points as the number of scales in the lateral line, rays of the fins, and so on. These distinctions, while neces- sary to the work of the systematic ichthy- ologist, need not concern us aquarists; we are more interested in studying the habits of the fishes. The late Seth Eu- gene Meek, of the Field Museum, Chi- cago, who had abundant opportunities to study and observe this fish in its native Mexico, considered helleri and guentheri as merely varieties, and not distinct spe- cies as we accept the term. I hold this view—local climatic, geological and wa- ter conditions influence to a pronounced degree the coloration, markings and other characteristics of many fishes. The American brook trout taken from a num- ber of streams will differ considerably, but no sane scientist considers the varia- tions sufficient to warrant making new species. The student is already bothered sufficiently with names better left uncon- ferred. Anyway, the old name of helleri will probably stand, having been the first adopted, as far as we aquarists are con- cerned.

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