| Temperature as an environmental factor has been a frequent subject of study, since it affects either directly or indirectly all living organisms. The determination of thermal limits (critical thermal minima - CTmin and maxima - CTmax) for the tropical ornamental freshwater teleost Xiphophorus maculatus Günther, 1866 (platyfish) was performed after their acclimation to the following temperatures: 15, 20, 25, and 30ºC, for seven days. After this period, the water temperature was elevated or reduced at a rate of 0.125ºC/min until CTmax and CTmin could be determined as the temperature at which 50% of the animals had lost equilibrium. Mean values for CTmax and CTmin for the acclimation temperatures of 15, 20, 25, and 30ºC were respectively:... |
