# Green swordtail (*Xiphophorus hellerii*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/green-swordtail  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii), also called the swordtail, is a bony fish in the family Poeciliidae and subfamily Poeciliinae. It belongs to the genus Xiphophorus in the order Cyprinodontiformes and class Teleostei, and was named by Heckel, 1848. The IUCN Red List assesses the green swordtail globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Not recorded |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | freshwater |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Teleostei
- order: Cyprinodontiformes
- family: Poeciliidae
- genus: Xiphophorus
- species: *Xiphophorus hellerii* Heckel, 1848

Synonyms: *Mollienisia helleri*, *Poecilia helleri*, *Xiphophorus brevis*, *Xiphophorus guentheri*, *Xiphophorus guntheri*, *Xiphophorus helleri*, *Xiphophorus helleri brevis*, *Xiphophorus helleri helleri*, *Xiphophorus helleri strigatus*, *Xiphophorus hellerii guentheri*, *Xiphophorus jalapae*, *Xiphophorus rachovii*, *Xiphophorus strigatus*, *Xiphorus helleri*

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the green swordtail?

The green swordtail is a bony fish in the family Poeciliidae, order Cyprinodontiformes.

### What is the scientific name of the green swordtail?

The scientific name of the green swordtail is Xiphophorus hellerii, placing it in the genus Xiphophorus.

### Who named the green swordtail?

The green swordtail was named by Heckel, 1848.

### Is the green swordtail endangered?

No. The IUCN Red List assesses the green swordtail globally as Least Concern, which is not a threatened category.

### What other names does the green swordtail have?

The green swordtail is also called the swordtail in English.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/green-swordtail