platyfish

plat y fish |ˈplatēˌfiSH ˈplætiˌfɪʃ | ▶noun ( pl. same or platyfishes ) a small livebearing freshwater fish of Mexico and Central America, popular in aquariums. [Genus Xiphophorus, family Poeciliidae: several species, in particular X. maculatus, which has been bred in a wide variety of colors. ] ORIGIN early 20th cent.: colloquial abbreviation of modern Latin Platypoecilus (former genus name ), from Greek platus ‘broad ’ + poikilos ‘variegated. ’