Guppy

Guppy
2 Females (bottom) and male (top) wild guppies
Scientific classification
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 guppii
    Günther, 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 the millionfish or rainbow fish,[3] is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, akin to most New World members of the family, is considered a livebearer.[4] 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 the larvae of aquatic insect.[5]

Originating from northeast South America, it has been introduced to many environments and are now found all over the world; guppies are now one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish and one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish species. They are highly adaptable and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions.[6] Guppies are used as a model organism in the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavioural studies.[6]

  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. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dussault1981 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Magurran2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).