platyfish

[ plat-ee-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) plat·y·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) plat·y·fish·es.

1. any of several small, yellow-gray freshwater fishes of the genus Xiphophorus, especially X. variatus, of Mexico: popular in home aquariums, in which the color varies widely.

Word History and Origins

Origin of platyfish¹

platy ², fish

Example Sentences

MCMCTree suggested that H. comes diverged from the common ancestor of stickleback, Nile tilapia, platyfish, fugu, and medaka approximately 103.8 Mya, which corresponds to the Cretaceous period.

From Nature

They breed a swordtail and a platyfish, both common pets, to create offspring that are more sensitive to UV light.

From Science Magazine

Platyfish have a so-called tumor gene and a regulator to control it, whereas swordtails have neither.

From Science Magazine

To make sure that their baby platyfish got a germ-free start, the researchers bathed the mother fish in alcohol, ether and iodine, made a Caesarean incision and gently sucked the young out of the germless oviduct with a rubber bulb, taking care not to rupture the germ-packed intestines.

From Time Magazine Archive

The platyfish, not an egg-layer, bears live young.

From Time Magazine Archive