New Zealand Freshwater Fish

DSC_4732 Feral swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) adult male. A feral population of this tropical aquarium fish established in the Waipahihi, a geothermal stream which flows into Lake Taupo. However a recent survey has failed to find any, and so that feral population may now be extinct. 'Green' swordtails (above) apparently from the wild, are still occasionally reported from Taupo area. The particular strain depicted, was first collected in 1951 from the Rio Lancetilla, Honduras in South America *

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DSC_4732 Feral swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) adult male. A feral population of this tropical aquarium fish established in the Waipahihi, a geothermal stream which flows into Lake Taupo. However a recent survey has failed to find any, and so that feral population may now be extinct. 'Green' swordtails (above) apparently from the wild, are still occasionally reported from Taupo area. The particular strain depicted, was first collected in 1951 from the Rio Lancetilla, Honduras in South America *

DSC 4732 Feral swordtail Xiphophorus helleri adult male population tropical aquarium fish Waipahihi geothermal stream Lake Taupo extinct 'Green' swordtail wild Taupo area Rio Lancetilla Honduras South America