Guppy

For other uses, see Guppy (disambiguation).

Guppy
Female (left) and male (right) guppies, an ornamental aquarium strain
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cyprinodontiformes
Family:	Poeciliidae
Genus:	Poecilia
Species:	P. reticulata
Binomial name
Poecilia reticulata W. Peters, 1859
Distribution map for Poecilia reticulata
Synonyms [2]
Acanthocephalus guppii(Günther, 1866) Acanthophacelus reticulatus(W. Peters, 1859) Girardinus guppiiGünther, 1866 Girardinus reticulatus(W. Peters, 1859) Lebistes poecilioides De Filippi, 1861 Lebistes reticulatus(W. Peters, 1859) Poecilioides reticulatus(W. Peters, 1859)

The guppy (Poecilia reticulata), also known as millionfish or the rainbow fish, ^[3] is one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish and one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, like almost all American members of the family, is live-bearing. ^[4] Guppies originate from northeast South America, but have been introduced to many environments and are now found all over the world. They are highly adaptable and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions. ^[5] Male guppies, which are smaller than females, have ornamental caudal and dorsal fins. Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food sources, including benthic algae and aquatic insect larvae. ^[6] Guppies are used as a model organism in the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavioural studies. ^[5]

Taxonomy

Guppies were first described in Venezuela as Poecilia reticulata by Wilhelm Peters in 1859 and as Lebistes poecilioides in Barbados by De Filippi in 1861. It was named Girardinus guppii by Albert Günther in honor of Robert John Lechmere Guppy, who sent specimens of the species from Trinidad to the Natural History Museum in London. ^[7] It was reclassified as Lebistes reticulatus by Regan in 1913. Then in 1963, Rosen and Bailey brought it back to its original name, Poecilia reticulata. While the taxonomy of the species was frequently changed and resulted in many synonyms, "guppy" remains the common name even as Girardinus guppii is now considered a junior synonym of Poecilia reticulata. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Guppies are native to Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. ^{[8] [9]} However, guppies have been introduced to many different countries on every continent except Antarctica. Sometimes this has occurred accidentally, but most often as a means of mosquito control. The guppies were expected to eat the mosquito larvae and help slow the spread of malaria, but in many cases, these guppies have had a negative impact on native fish populations. ^[10] Field studies reveal that guppies have colonized almost every freshwater body accessible to them in their natural ranges, especially in the streams located near the coastal fringes of mainland South America. Although not typically found there, guppies also have tolerance to brackish water and have colonized some brackish environments. ^[5] They tend to be more abundant in smaller streams and pools than in large, deep, or fast-flowing rivers. ^[11] They also are capable of being acclimated to full saltwater like their molly cousins.

Description

Sexual polymorphism exhibited in the Trinidadian guppy (above male, below female)

Guppy breeds

Guppies exhibit sexual dimorphism. While wild-type females are grey in body colour, males have splashes, spots, or stripes that can be any of a wide variety of colors. ^[12] The development and exhibiting of color patterns in male guppies is usually due to the amount of thyroid hormone that they contain. The thyroid hormones not only influence color pattern, but control endocrine function in response to their environment. ^[13] The size of guppies vary, but males are typically 1.5–4 cm (0.6–1.6 in) long, while females are 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) long.

A variety of fancy guppy strains are produced by breeders through selective breeding, characterized by different colours, patterns, shapes, and sizes of fins, such as snakeskin and grass varieties. Many domestic strains have morphological traits that are very distinct from the wild-type antecedents. Males and females of many domestic strains usually have larger body size and are much more lavishly ornamented than their wild-type antecedents. ^[14]

Guppies have 23 pairs of chromosomes, including one pair of sex chromosomes, the same number as humans. ^[15] The genes responsible for male guppies' ornamentations are Y-chromosome linked and are heritable. ^[16]

Lifecycle

Guppy (female)

Two generations of guppies per year occur in the wild. Guppies are well developed and capable of independent existence without further parental care by the time they are born. Young guppies school together and perform anti-predator tactics. Brood size is extremely variable, yet some consistent differences exist among populations depending on the predation level and other factors. ^[5] Females of matching body sizes tend to produce more numerous but smaller-sized offspring in high-predation conditions. Female guppies first produce offspring at 10–20 weeks of age, and they continue to reproduce until 20–34 months of age. Male guppies mature in 7 weeks or less. ^[5] Total lifespan of guppies in the wild varies greatly, but it is typically around 2 years. ^[17] Variations in such life historic characteristics of guppies are observed in different populations, indicating that different evolutionary pressures exist.

Maturity

Guppies' body sizes are positively correlated with age, and their size at maturation varies highly depending on the predation risk of the occupied environments. Male and female guppies from high-predation regions mature faster and start reproducing earlier, and they devote more resources to reproduction than those from low-predation regions. ^[18] Females from high-predation regions reproduce more frequently and produce more offspring per litter, indicating that they are more fecund than low-predation females. Female guppies' reproductive success is also related to age. Older females produce offspring with reduced size and at increased interbrood intervals. ^[19]

Senescence

One major factor that affects wild guppies' senescence patterns is the mortality rate caused by predation. Guppies from high-predation environments suffer high extrinsic mortality rate because they are more likely to be killed by predators. Female guppies from high-predation environments experience a significant increase in mortality at 6 months of age, while those from low-predation environments do not suffer increased mortality until 16 months. However, guppies from high-predation environments were found to have longer lifespans because their reproductive lifespans are longer. No significant difference is seen in postreproductive lifespans. ^{[17] [ dubious – discuss ]}

Population regulations

In addition to senescence pattern, resource availability and density also matter in regulation of guppy populations. Guppies reduce their fecundity and reproductive allocation in response to scarce food. When food is abundant, they increase brood size. ^[20] Differential reproductive allocation can be the cause of seasonality of life-history characteristics in some guppy populations. For example, during the wet season from May to December, guppies in the Northern Range of Trinidad reduce their investment in reproduction regardless of predation level, possibly in response to decreased food resources. ^[21] Population density also matters in simpler environments because higher intraspecific competition causes a decrease in reproductive rate and somatic growth rate, and a corresponding increase in juvenile mortality rate due to cannibalism. ^[22] It was confirmed that in low-predation environments, guppy populations are in part regulated by density. ^[23]

Ecology and behavior

Mating

Guppies have the mating system called polyandry, where females mate with multiple males. ^[24] Multiple mating is beneficial for males because the males' reproductive success is directly related to how many times they mate. The cost of multiple mating for males is very low because they do not provide material benefit to the females or parental care to the offspring. Conversely, multiple mating can be disadvantageous for females because it reduces foraging efficiency and increases the chances of predation and parasitic infection. ^[25] However, females gain some potential benefits from multiple mating. For example, females that mate multiple times are found to be able to produce more offspring in shorter gestation time, and their offspring tend to have better qualities such as enhanced schooling and predator evasion abilities. ^[25]

Female guppies mate again more actively and delay the development of a brood when the anticipated second mate is more attractive than the first male. Experiments show that remating females prefer a novel male to the original male or a brother of the original male with similar phenotypes. Females' preference for novel males in remating can explain the excessive phenotypic polymorphism in male guppies. ^[26]

Inbreeding avoidance

Inbreeding ordinarily has negative fitness consequences (inbreeding depression), and as a result species have evolved mechanisms to avoid inbreeding. Inbreeding depression is considered to be due largely to the expression of homozygous deleterious recessive mutations. ^[27] Numerous inbreeding avoidance mechanisms operating prior to mating have been described. However, inbreeding avoidance mechanisms that operate subsequent to copulation are less well known. In guppies, a post-copulatory mechanism of inbreeding avoidance occurs based on competition between sperm of rival males for achieving fertilization. ^[28] In competitions between sperm from an unrelated male and from a full sibling male, a significant bias in paternity towards the unrelated male was observed. ^[28]

Females' mating choice

Female guppy choice plays an important role in multiple mating. Female guppies are attracted to brightly colored males, especially ones with orange spots on the flank. ^[29] Orange spots can serve as an indicator of better physical fitness, as orange-spotted males are observed to swim longer in a strong current. ^[30] There is also the concept of color association to possibly explain mate choice since one of the food sources wild guppies compete vigorously for is the fruit of cabrehash trees ( Sloanea laurifolia), an orange carotenoid-containing fruit. ^[31] The orange coloration that female guppies select for in males is composed of carotenoids, the saturation of which is affected by the male's carotenoid ingestion and parasite load. ^[32] Guppies cannot synthesize these pigments by themselves and must obtain them through their diet. Because of this connection, females are possibly selecting for healthy males with superior foraging abilities by choosing mates with bright orange carotinoid pigments, thus increasing the survival chance of her offspring. ^[32] Due to the advantage in mating, male guppies evolve to have more ornamentation across generations in low-predation environments where the cost of being conspicuous is lower. The rate and duration of courtship display of male guppies also play an important role in female guppies' mating choice. Courtship behavior is another indicator of fitness due to the physical strength involved in maintaining the courtship dance, called sigmoid display, in which the males flex their bodies into an S shape and vibrate rapidly. ^[33]

Sigmoid display of male guppy

Female mating choice may also be influenced by another female's choice. In an experiment, female guppies watched two males, one solitary and the other actively courting another female, and were given a choice between the two. Most females spent a longer time next to the male that was courting. ^[34] Female guppies' preference for fit males allows their descendants to inherit better physical fitness and better chance of survival.

Predation

Aequidens pulcher, a common predator of guppies

Guppies have many predators, such as larger fish and birds, in their native range. Some of their common predators in the wild are Crenicichla alta , Anablepsoides hartii , and Aequidens pulcher . ^[35] Guppies' small bodies and the bright coloration of males make them easy prey, and like many fish, they often school together to avoid predation. Schooling is more favored by evolution in populations of guppies under high predation pressure, exerted either by predator type or predator density. ^[36] Male guppies rely on schooling, in particular the behavioral responses of females, to make antipredator decisions. ^[37] Coloration of guppies also evolves differentially in response to predation. Male guppies that are brighter in color have an advantage in mating as they attract more females in general, but they have a higher risk of being noticed by predators than duller males. Male guppies evolve to be more dull in color and have fewer, smaller spots under intense predation both in wild and in laboratory settings. ^[38] Female guppies in a high-predation environment also evolve to prefer brightly colored males less, often rejecting them. ^[39]

Predator inspection

When guppies encounter a potential predator, some of them approach the predator to assess danger. This behavior, called predator inspection, benefits the inspector since it gains information, but puts the inspector at a risk of predation. To reduce the risk, inspectors avoid the predator's mouth area—called the 'attack cone'—and approach the predator from the side or back. They may also form a group for protection, the size of which is larger in high-predation populations. Although evidence indicates predators are less likely to attack an inspector than a non-inspector, the inspectors remain at higher risk due to proximity to the predator. ^[40]

Risk-taking behaviors such as predator inspection can be evolutionarily stable only when a mechanism prevents selfish individuals from taking advantage of "altruistic" individuals. Guppies may adopt a conditional-approach strategy that resembles tit for tat. According to this hypothesis, guppies would inspect the predator on the first move, but if their co-inspectors do not participate in the predator inspection visits or do not approach the predator close enough, they can retaliate by copying the defector's last move in the next predator inspection visit. The hypothesis was supported in laboratory experiments. ^[41]

Predator diversion

When guppies detect a predator, their irises rapidly darken from silver to jet black, which draws predators to attack the guppies' head instead of their body's center of mass. ^{[42] [43]} Perhaps counterintuitively, this predator divertive behavior allows guppies to rapidly pivot out of the way as predators lunge where the guppies' head was; this "matador-like" anti-predator behavior was first described in guppies but may be found in other animal species with bright, attention-grabbing coloration located on vital organs, such as epaulette sharks. ^{[43] [42]}

Parasites

Guppies are also host to a range of parasites and one of these, Gyrodactylus turnbulli , has been used as a model system for studying host-parasite interactions. ^[44] Recent work on this has shown that the interaction between exposure to chronic anthropogenic noise and G. turnbulli can decrease guppy survival. While a short burst of underwater noise has positive effects on parasite densities on the host. Most likely resulting in negative fitness effects for guppies. ^[44]

Feeding

Wild guppies feed on algal remains, diatoms, invertebrates, zooplankton, detritus, ^[45] plant fragments, mineral particles, aquatic insect larvae, and other sources. Algal remains constitute the biggest proportion of wild guppy diet in most cases, but diets vary depending on the specific conditions of food availability in the habitat. ^{[6] [46]} For example, a study on wild Trinidad guppies showed that guppies collected from an oligotrophic upstream region (upper Aripo River) mainly consumed invertebrates, while guppies from a eutrophic downstream region (lower Tacarigua River) consumed mostly diatoms and mineral particles. Algae are less nutritious than invertebrates, and the guppies that feed mainly on algae have poor diets. ^[5]

Guppy food - Daphnia magna

Guppies have also been observed eating native fishes' eggs, occasionally expressing cannibalism, also eating its own young, when kept in laboratory conditions. ^[45]

Guppies' diet preference is not simply correlated to the abundance of a particular food. Laboratory experiments confirmed that guppies show 'diet switching' behavior, in which they feed disproportionately on the more abundant food when they are offered two food choices. The result shows that different groups of guppies have weak and variable food preference. ^[47] Diet preference in guppies could be related to factors such as the presence of competitors. For example, the lower Tacarigua River has a larger variety of species and competition for invertebrate prey is higher; therefore, the proportion of invertebrates is small in the diets of those guppies. ^[5]

Foraging

Guppies often forage in groups because they can find food more easily. Shoaling guppies spend less time and energy on antipredatory behavior than solitary ones and spend more time on feeding. However, such behavior results in food that is found being shared with other members of the group. Studies also show when an evolutionary cost exists, guppies that tend to shoal are less aggressive and less competitive with regards to scarce resources. ^[48] Therefore, shoaling is preferred in high-predation regions, but not in low-predation regions. When guppies with a high tendency to shoal were isolated from high-predation regions and were relocated to predator-free environments, over time, they decreased their shoaling behavior, supporting the hypothesis that shoaling is less preferred in low-predation environments. ^[49]

Reproduction

Birth of guppy fry

A guppy fry in an aquarium at one week of age

Guppies are highly prolific livebearers. ^[50] The gestation period of guppies varies considerably, ranging from 20 to 60 days at 25 to 27 C and depending on several environmental factors. ^{[51] [52]} Reproduction typically continues through the year, and the female becomes ready for conception again quickly after parturition. ^[5] Male guppies, like other members of the family Poeciliidae, possess a modified tubular anal fin called the gonopodium, located directly behind the ventral fin. The gonopodium has a channel-like structure through which bundles of spermatozoa, called spermatozeugmata, are transferred to females. In courted mating, where the female shows receptive behavior following the male's courtship display, the male briefly inserts the gonopodium into the female's genital pore for internal fertilization. However, in the case of sneaky mating where copulation is forced, the male approaches the female and thrusts the gonopodium at the female's urogenital pore. ^[53]

Once inseminated, female guppies can store sperm in their ovaries and gonoducts, which can continue to fertilize ova up to eight months. ^[54] Because of the sperm-storage mechanism, males are capable of posthumous reproduction, meaning the female mate can give birth to the male's offspring long after the male's death, which contributes significantly to the reproductive dynamics of the wild guppy populations. ^[55]

The guppy has been successfully hybridised with various species of molly ( Poecilia latipinna or P. velifera), e.g., male guppy and female molly. However, the hybrids are always male and appear to be infertile. ^[56] The guppy has also been hybridised with the Endler's livebearer ( Poecilia wingei ) to produce fertile offspring, with the suggestion that, despite physical and behavioural differences, Endler's may represent a subspecies of Poecilia reticulata rather than a distinct species. ^{[57] [58]}

Inbreeding depression

Due to the extensive selective breeding of guppies for desirable traits such as greater size and colour, some strains of the fish have become less hardy than their wild counterparts. Immense inbreeding of guppies has been found to affect body size, fertility and susceptibility to diseases. ^[59]

In the aquarium

Guppy standards

Large strains:
A - Veil tail
B - Triangle tail
C - Fan tail
D - Flag tail

Sword strains:
E - Double sword
F - Upper sword
G - Lower sword
H - Lyre tail

Short strains:
I - Spade tail
J - Spear tail
K - Round tail
L - Pin tail

Guppies prefer a hard-water aquarium with a temperature between 25.5 and 27.8 °C (78 and 82 °F) and salt levels equivalent to one tablespoon per 19 L (5 US gal). ^[60] They can withstand levels of salinity up to 150% that of normal seawater, ^[61] which has led to them being occasionally included in marine tropical community tanks, as well as in freshwater tropical tanks. Guppies are generally peaceful, though nipping behaviour is sometimes exhibited between male guppies or towards other top swimmers like members of the genus Xiphophorus (platies and swordtails), and occasionally other fish with prominent fins, such as angelfish. Guppies should not be kept as a single fish in an aquarium because both males and females show signs of shoaling, and are usually found in large groups in the wild. ^[62] Its most famous characteristic is its propensity for breeding, and it can breed in both freshwater and marine aquaria. ^[63]

Guppies prefer water temperatures around 22.2–26.1 °C (72–79 °F) for reproduction. Pregnant female guppies have enlarged and darkened gravid spots near their anal vents. Just before birth, the eyes of fry may be seen through the translucent skin in this area of the female's body. ^[64] When birth occurs, individual offspring are dropped in sequence, typically over a period of one to six hours. The female guppy has drops of two to 200 fry at a time, though typically ranging between 30 and 60. ^[65]

Well-fed adults do not often eat their own young, although sometimes safe zones are required for the fry. Specially designed livebearer birthing tanks, which can be suspended inside the aquarium, are available from aquatic retailers. These also serve to shield the pregnant female from further attention from the males, which is important because the males sometimes attack the females while they are giving birth. ^[66] It also provides a separate area for the newborn young as protection from being eaten by their mother. ^[67] However, if a female is put in the breeder box too early, it may cause her to have a miscarriage. Well-planted tanks that offer barriers to adult guppies shelter the young quite well. Guppy grass, water sprite, water wisteria, duckweed, water lettuce and java moss are all good choices. A continuous supply of live food, such as Daphnia or brine shrimp, keep adult fish full and may spare the fry when they are born. ^[68] Young fry take roughly three or four months to reach maturity. Feeding fry live foods, such as baby brine shrimp, microworms, infusoria and vinegar eels, is recommended. Alternatives include finely ground flake food, egg yolk, and liquid fish food, though the particulates in these may be too large for the youngest fry to eat. ^[69]

Common diseases

Guppies are susceptible to various diseases, which may stem from bacterial, parasitic, or fungal infections. Maintaining a clean tank, a balanced diet, and regular monitoring can help in preventing these diseases.

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (Ich)

Ichthyophthirius multifiliis , commonly known as ich, is a protozoan parasite that infects guppies and other freshwater fish. The infection is characterized by white cysts appearing on the skin, gills, and fins of the affected fish, giving a distinct white spot appearance which is often referred to as "white spot disease". ^[70]

The life cycle of Ichthyophthirius multifiliis involves three stages: the trophont stage, the tomont stage, and the theront stage.

Fin rot

Fin rot is primarily caused by bacterial infections, although fungal infections can also be a culprit. The condition manifests through the progressive decay or fraying of the fins, often accompanied by discoloration, usually turning the edges of the fins white, black, or red. The primary causative agents of fin rot are gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescens and Aeromonas hydrophila . ^[71] Poor water quality, overcrowding, and stress are significant contributors to the onset and progression of the disease, as they create an environment conducive for bacterial growth and can compromise the fish's immune system. ^[72]

Columnaris

Columnaris, also known as cotton mouth disease or cotton wool disease, is a common bacterial infection in guppies and other freshwater fish, caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare . This bacterium thrives in warm, freshwater environments. Treatment for columnaris should commence promptly to prevent severe mortality. Common treatment measures include: improving water quality, antibacterial medications such as kanamycin, erythromycin, or oxytetracycline, and in extreme cases, antibiotic injections. ^{[73] [74]}

Velvet disease

Velvet, also known as gold dust disease, is a prevalent ailment caused by the dinoflagellate parasites of the genus Oodinium . ^[75] When these parasites attach to a fish's skin, gills, and eyes, they trigger a range of symptoms. Notable symptoms include a fine gold or rust-colored dust appearing on the fish's body, clamped fins, scratching against objects, rapid gill movement due to irritation, decreased feeding, lethargy, and, in advanced stages, respiratory distress.

Swim bladder disease

Swim bladder disease is a common condition which impairs their ability to maintain buoyancy. This condition is associated with the swim bladder, a gas-filled organ that aids fish in remaining buoyant at varying water depths. The symptoms of swim bladder disease are quite distinctive and include difficulty in maintaining buoyancy which causes the fish to either float to the top or sink to the bottom, abnormal swimming patterns such as swimming on the side or upside down, and a bloated appearance or a visibly enlarged belly.

Several factors can contribute to the onset of swim bladder disease. Overfeeding is a common cause, leading to constipation which may press against the swim bladder. Bacterial or viral infections affecting the swim bladder can also trigger this condition. ^[76] Physical injury or congenital deformities of the swim bladder are other potential causes.

References

1. "Poecilia reticulata: Lyons, T.J." IUCN Red List . 2020. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T60444A3100119.en . S2CID   242029263.
2. "Synonyms of Poecilia reticulata". FishBase.org. Archived from the original on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
3. "Common Names of Poecilia reticulata". FishBase.org. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
4. "Guppy Fish". AquaticCommunity.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
5. Magurran, Anne E. (2005). Evolutionary Ecology: The Trinidadian Guppy. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-852786-2.
6. Dussault, Gertrude V.; Kramer, Donald L. (1981). "Food and feeding behavior of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata (Pisces: Poeciliidae)". Canadian Journal of Zoology . 59 (4): 684–701. doi:10.1139/z81-098.
7. Günther, Albert (1866). Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum. Vol. 6. London: Taylor and Francis. p. 353.
8. "Countries where Poecilia reticulata is found". FishBase.org. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
9. "Poecilia reticulata (fish)". Global Invasive Species Database. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
10. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Poecilia reticulata". FishBase . April 2007 version.
11. Magurran, Anne E.; Phillip, Dawn A. T. (2001). "Evolutionary implications of large-scale patterns in the ecology of Trinidadian guppies, Poecilia reticulata". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society . 73 (1): 1–9. Bibcode:2001BJLS...73....1M. doi: 10.1006/bijl.2000.0519 .
12. "Poecilia reticulata: Guppy". SeriouslyFish.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
13. Prazdnikov, Denis V. (28 May 2021). "Role of thyroid hormones in color diversity of male guppies: experimental data on Endler's guppy (Poecilia wingei)". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 104 (June 2021): 675–688. Bibcode:2021EnvBF.104..675P. doi:10.1007/s10641-021-01102-x. S2CID   236416650.
14. "Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1860". Viviparos.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
15. Khoo, Gideon; Lim, Tit Meng; Chan, Woon-Khiong; Phang, Violet P. E. (1999). "Genetic Basis of the Variegated Tail Pattern in the Guppy, Poecilia reticulata". Zoological Science . 16 (3): 431–437. doi: 10.2108/zsj.16.431 . S2CID   73606453.
16. Brooks, Robert (2000). "Negative genetic correlation between male sexual attractiveness and survival". Nature . 406 (6791): 67–70. Bibcode:2000Natur.406...67B. doi:10.1038/35017552. PMID   10894542. S2CID   4385649.
17. Reznick, David N.; Bryant, Michael; Holmes, Donna (2006). "The Evolution of Senescence and Post-Reproductive Lifespan in Guppies (Poecilia reticulata)". PLOS Biology . 4 (1): 136–143. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0040007 . PMC   1318473 . PMID   16363919.
18. Reznick, David N.; Butler, Mark J. IV; Rodd, F. Helen; Ross, Patrick (1996). "Life-History Evolution in Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) 6. Differential Mortality as a Mechanism for Natural Selection". Evolution . 50 (4): 1651–1660. doi:10.2307/2410901. JSTOR   2410901. PMID   28565709.
19. Reznick, David N.; Buckwalter, G.; Groff, J.; Elder, D. (2001). "The evolution of senescence in natural populations of guppies (Poecilia reticulata): a comparative approach". Experimental Gerontology. 36 (4–6): 791–812. doi:10.1016/S0531-5565(00)00241-2. PMID   11295514. S2CID   23359090.
20. Reznick, David N. (1983). "The Structure of Guppy Life Histories: The Tradeoff between Growth and Reproduction". Ecology . 64 (4): 862–873. Bibcode:1983Ecol...64..862R. doi:10.2307/1937209. JSTOR   1937209.
21. Reznick, David N. (1989). "Life-History Evolution in Guppies: 2. Repeatability of Field Observations and the Effects of Season on Life Histories". Evolution . 43 (6): 1285–1297. doi:10.2307/2409363. JSTOR   2409363. PMID   28564499.
22. Barlow, Jay (1992). "Nonlinear and Logistic Growth in Experimental Populations of Guppies". Ecology . 73 (3): 941–950. Bibcode:1992Ecol...73..941B. doi:10.2307/1940170. JSTOR   1940170. S2CID   51902589.
23. Bronikowski, Anne M.; Clark, Mark E.; Rodd, F. Helen; Reznick, David N. (2002). "Population-Dynamic Consequences of Predator-Induced Life History Variation in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)". Ecology . 83 (8): 2194–2204. doi:10.2307/3072051. JSTOR   3072051.
24. Barbosa, Miguel; Magurran, Anne E. (2011). "Evidence of female-promoted polyandry in Trinidadian guppies". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 90 (1): 95–102. Bibcode:2011EnvBF..90...95B. doi:10.1007/s10641-010-9721-y. S2CID   27300353.
25. Evans, J. P.; Magurran, Anne E. (2000). "Multiple benefits of multiple mating in guppies". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 97 (18): 10074–10076. Bibcode:2000PNAS...9710074E. doi: 10.1073/pnas.180207297 . PMC   27698 . PMID   10954750.
26. Eakley, Angela L.; Houde, Anne E. (2004). "Possible role of female discrimination against 'redundant' males in the evolution of colour pattern polymorphism in guppies". Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 271 (Suppl 5): S299–S301. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2004.0165. PMC   1810072 . PMID   15504000.
27. Charlesworth, Deborah; Willis, John H. (November 2009). "The genetics of inbreeding depression". Nature Reviews Genetics. 10 (11): 783–96. doi:10.1038/nrg2664. PMID   19834483. S2CID   771357.
28. Fitzpatrick, J. L.; Evans, J. P. (December 2014). "Postcopulatory inbreeding avoidance in guppies" (PDF). Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 27 (12): 2585–94. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12545 . PMID   25387854. S2CID   934203.
29. Houde, Anne E. (April 1988). "Genetic difference in female choice between two guppy populations". Animal Behaviour . 36 (2): 511–516. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(88)80022-8. S2CID   53157095.
30. Nicoletto, Paul F. (June 1991). "The relationship between male ornamentation and swimming performance in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology . 28 (5): 365–370. Bibcode:1991BEcoS..28..365N. doi:10.1007/BF00164386. S2CID   22006110.
31. Cole, Gemma L.; Endler, John A. (7 April 2015). "Artificial selection for food colour preferences". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 282 (1804). 20143108. doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.3108. PMC   4375879 . PMID   25740894.
32. Rodd, F. Helen; Hughes, Kimberly A.; Grether, Gregory F.; Baril, Colette T. (7 March 2002). "A possible non-sexual origin of mate preference: are male guppies mimicking fruit?". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 269 (1490): 475–481. doi:10.1098/rspb.2001.1891. PMC   1690917 . PMID   11886639.
33. Nicoletto, Paul F. (1996). "The influence of water velocity on the display behavior of male guppies, Poecilia reticulata". Behavioral Ecology . 7 (3): 272–278. doi: 10.1093/beheco/7.3.272 .
34. Dugatkin, L. A. (1992). "Sexual selection and imitation: Females copy the mate choice of others". The American Naturalist . 139 (6): 1384–1389. doi:10.1086/285392. S2CID   84747983.
35. "Sex and the single guppy". PBS. Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
36. Seghers, Benoni H. (September 1974). "Schooling Behavior in the Guppy (Poecilia reticulata): An Evolutionary Response to Predation". Evolution . 28 (3): 486–489. doi:10.2307/2407174. JSTOR   2407174. PMID   28564850.
37. Brusseau, Alix J P; Feyten, Laurence E A; Crane, Adam L; Ramnarine, Indar W; Ferrari, Maud C O; Brown, Grant E (7 August 2024). "Antipredator decisions of male Trinidadian guppies ( Poecilia reticulata ) depend on social cues from females". Current Zoology. doi: 10.1093/cz/zoae040 . ISSN   1674-5507.
38. Endler, John A. (January 1980). "Natural Selection on Color Patterns in Poecilia reticulata". Evolution . 34 (1): 76–91. doi:10.2307/2408316. JSTOR   2408316. PMID   28563214.
39. Stoner, Gregory; Breden, Felix (April 1988). "Phenotypic differentiation in female preference related to geographic variation in male predation risk in the Trinidad guppy (Poecilia reticulata)". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology . 22 (4): 285–291. Bibcode:1988BEcoS..22..285S. doi:10.1007/BF00299844. S2CID   24521306.
40. Magurran, Anne E.; Seghers, Benoni H. (September 1990). "Population differences in predator recognition and attack cone avoidance in the guppy Poecilia reticulata". Animal Behaviour . 40 (3): 443–452. doi:10.1016/S0003-3472(05)80524-X. S2CID   53258954.
41. Dugatkin, Lee A.; Alfieri, Michael (July 1991). "Tit-For-Tat in guppies (Poecilia reticulata): the relative nature of cooperation and defection during predator inspection". Evolutionary Ecology. 5 (3): 300–309. Bibcode:1991EvEco...5..300D. doi:10.1007/BF02214234. S2CID   23482076.
42. Heathcote, Robert J. P.; Troscianko, Jolyon; Darden, Safi K.; Naisbett-Jones, Lewis C.; Laker, Philippa R.; Brown, Antony M.; Ramnarine, Indar W.; Walker, Jeffrey; Croft, Darren P. (20 July 2020). "A Matador-like Predator Diversion Strategy Driven by Conspicuous Coloration in Guppies". Current Biology. 30 (14): 2844–2851.e8. Bibcode:2020CBio...30E2844H. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.017 . hdl: 10871/120959 . ISSN   0960-9822. PMID   32531279. S2CID   219572283.
43. Sima, Richard. "The Matador in Your Fish Tank". Scientific American.
44. Masud, Numair; Hayes, Laura; Crivelli, Davide; Grigg, Stephen; Cable, Jo (2020). "Noise pollution: acute noise exposure increases susceptibility to disease and chronic exposure reduces host survival". Royal Society Open Science. 7 (9): 200172. Bibcode:2020RSOS....700172M. doi: 10.1098/rsos.200172 . PMC   7540788 . PMID   33047012.
45. "Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago [OGATT] - Guppy" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
46. Lawal, M. O.; Edokpayi, C. A.; Osibona, A. O. (2012). "Food and Feeding Habits of the Guppy, Poecilia reticulata, from Drainage Canal Systems in Lagos, Southwestern Nigeria". West African Journal of Applied Ecology. 20 (2): 1–9. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
47. Murduch, William W.; Avery, S.; Smyth, Michael E. B. (1975). "Switching in Predatory Fish". Ecology . 56 (5): 1094–1105. Bibcode:1975Ecol...56.1094M. doi:10.2307/1936149. JSTOR   1936149.
48. Magurran, Anne E.; Seghers, Benoni H. (1991). "Variation in schooling and aggression amongst guppy (Poecilia reticulata) populations in Trinidad" (PDF). Behaviour. 118 (3/4): 214–234. doi:10.1163/156853991X00292. JSTOR   4534965. S2CID   84573662. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 February 2020.
49. Magurran, Anne E.; Seghers, Benoni H.; Carvalho, Gary R.; Shaw, Paul W. (1992). "Behavioural Consequences of an Artificial Introduction of Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in N. Trinidad: Evidence for the Evolution of Anti-Predator Behaviour in the Wild". Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 248 (1322): 117–122. doi:10.1098/rspb.1992.0050. S2CID   85844006.
50. "Guppy". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2007. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2007.
51. Evans, J. P.; Magurran, A. E. (2000). "Multiple benefits of multiple mating in guppies". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 97 (18): 10074–10076. Bibcode:2000PNAS...9710074E. doi: 10.1073/pnas.180207297 . PMC   27698 . PMID   10954750.
52. Sato, Aya; Aihara, Ryu-ichi; Karino, Kenji (2021). "Male coloration affects female gestation period and timing of fertilization in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)". PLOS ONE. 16 (12): e0261004. Bibcode:2021PLoSO..1661004S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261004 . PMC   8639057 . PMID   34855912.
53. Reynolds, John D.; Gross, Mart R.; Coombs, Mark J. (1993). "Environmental conditions and male morphology determine alternative mating behavior in Trinidadian guppies" (PDF). Animal Behaviour . 45 (1): 145–152. doi:10.1006/anbe.1993.1013. S2CID   53174560. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2019.
54. Winge, Ö. (1937). "Succession of broods in Lebistes". Nature . 140 (3541): 467. Bibcode:1937Natur.140..467W. doi: 10.1038/140467b0 . S2CID   4092610.
55. López-Sepulcre, Andrés; Gordon, Swanne P.; Paterson, Ian G.; Bentzen, Paul; Reznick, David N. (2013). "Beyond lifetime reproductive success: the posthumous reproductive dynamics of male Trinidadian guppies". Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 280 (1763): 20131116. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.1116. PMC   3774245 . PMID   23740786.
56. Ghadially, F. N.; Gordon, M. (July 1957). "A Localized Melanoma in a Hybrid Fish Lebistes × Mollienesia". Cancer Research . 17 (6): 597–599. PMID   13446844.
57. Griffitts, Tony (1997). "Endler's Livebearer". Aquaworld Aquarium. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
58. Griffitts, Tony (2011). "Endler's Livebearer: It's a Guppy!". Aquaworld Aquarium. Archived from the original on 24 July 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
59. Van Oosterhout, Cock; et al. (December 2007). "The Guppy as a Conservation Model: Implications of Parasitism and Inbreeding for Reintroduction Success". Conservation Biology. 21 (6): 1573–1583. Bibcode:2007ConBi..21.1573V. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00809.x. JSTOR   4621001. PMID   18173481. S2CID   23388119.
60. Hargrove, Maddy; Hargrove, Mic (2006). Freshwater Aquariums for Dummies (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Wiley. p.  99. ISBN   978-0-470-05103-0.
61. Chervinski, J. (April 1984). "Salinity tolerance of the guppy, Poecilia Reticulata Peters". Journal of Fish Biology . 24 (4): 449–452. Bibcode:1984JFBio..24..449C. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1984.tb04815.x.
62. Nandedkar, Swaraj (30 September 2023). "Guppies are Schooling Fish". FishFanforLife. doi:10.1007/BF00300143. S2CID   13158363.
63. Shikano, Takahito; Fujio, Yoshihisa (August 1997). "Successful Propagation in Seawater of the Guppy Poecilia reticulata with Reference to High Salinity Tolerance at Birth". Fisheries Science. 63 (4): 573–575. Bibcode:1997FisSc..63..573S. doi: 10.2331/fishsci.63.573 .
64. Mayntz, Melissa. "Gestation Period for Guppies". LoveToKnow.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
65. Donovan, Dave. "Pregnant Guppy Fish". LoveToKnow.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
66. "Breed Guppies – Tips You Need to Know". Guppybreeding.net. 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
67. "Guppy fry care: how to look after baby guppies". Guppyfishcare.com. 12 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
68. "Livebearers: Guppies". TropicalFauna.info. Archived from the original on 7 December 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
69. Carroll, Fussell. "Tiny Foods For Small Fry". FishChannel.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
70. von Gersdorff Jorgensen, Louise; Puspasari, Khumaira; Insariani (1 January 2022), Kibenge, Frederick S. B.; Baldisserotto, Bernardo; Chong, Roger Sie-Maen (eds.), "Chapter 40 - Infection by Ichthyophthirius multifiliis", Aquaculture Pathophysiology, Academic Press, pp. 493–503, ISBN   978-0-12-812211-2 , retrieved 20 October 2023
71. Caldwell, Melba C.; Caldwell, David K.; B. C. Townsend, Jr (30 March 2015). "IAAAM Archive". VIN.com.
72. "Guppy Fin Rot: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments". 24 September 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
73. Medicine, Center for Veterinary (27 October 2020). "Everything Aquatic - 610530 - 10/06/2020". Center for Veterinary Medicine. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
74. Declercq, Annelies Maria; Haesebrouck, Freddy; Van den Broeck, Wim; Bossier, Peter; Decostere, Annemie (24 April 2013). "Columnaris disease in fish: a review with emphasis on bacterium-host interactions". Veterinary Research. 44 (1): 27. doi: 10.1186/1297-9716-44-27 . ISSN   1297-9716. PMC   3648355 . PMID   23617544.
75. Noga, Edward J. (18 June 2010). Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment (1 ed.). Wiley. doi:10.1002/9781118786758. ISBN   978-0-8138-0697-6.
76. Smith, Stephen A., ed. (2 April 2019). Fish Diseases and Medicine (1 ed.). Boca Raton, Florida : CRC Press, [2019]: CRC Press. doi:10.1201/9780429195259. ISBN   978-0-429-19525-9. S2CID   232970157.

Further reading

• Houde, Anne E (1997). Sex, Color, and Mate Choice in Guppies. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 227. ISBN   978-0-691-02789-0.

External links

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Poecilia reticulata". FishBase . April 2004 version.