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{{otheruses}}

{{Taxobox
| color = pink
| name = Guppy
| status =

secure
| image = Guppy-Male-and-Female.JPG
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = Male (left) and female (right) guppies
| regnum = ]ia
| phylum = ]
| classis = ]
| ordo = ]
| familia = ]
| genus = '']''
| species = '''''P. reticulata'''''
| binomial = ''Poecilia reticulata''
| binomial_authority = ], 1859
| synonyms =
{{lang|la|''Acanthocephalus guppii''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''A. reticulatus''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''Girardinus guppii''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''G. petersi''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''G. poeciloides''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''G. reticulatus''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''Haridichthys reticulatus''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''Heterandria guppyi''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''Lebistes poecilioides''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''L. reticulatus''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''Poecilia poeciloides''}}<br>
{{lang|la|''Poecilioides reticulatus''}}<br>
}}

The '''guppy''' ({{lang|la|'''''Poecilia reticulata'''''}}), also known as the '''millionsfish''',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.cfm?ID=3228&GenusName=Poecilia&SpeciesName=reticulata&StockCode=3424|title=Common Names of Poecilia reticulata|author=Eli Agbayani|accessdate=2007-04-24}}</ref> is one of the most popular ] in the world. It is a small member of the ] family (females 4-6 centimetres long, males 2½&ndash;3½ centimetres long) and like all other members of the family, is ].

==Taxonomy==
] discovered this tiny fish in ] in 1866, and the fish was named ''Girardinus guppii'' in his honour by ] later that year. However, the fish had previously been described by ] in 1859 on material collected from South America. Although ''Girardinus guppii'' is now considered a ] of ''Poecilia reticulata'', the common name "guppy" still remains.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Nomenclature/SynonymsList.cfm?ID=3228&GenusName=Poecilia&SpeciesName=reticulata|title=Synonyms of Poecilia reticulata|author=Eli Agbayani|accessdate=2007-04-24}}</ref>
Over time guppies have been given a variety of ] names, although ''Poecilia reticulata'' is the name currently considered to be valid.

==Distribution==
Guppies are native to Trinidad and parts of South America, specifically ], ], ], ], ], ], the ], and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fishbase.org/Country/CountryList.cfm?ID=3228&GenusName=Poecilia&SpeciesName=reticulata|title=Countries where Poecilia reticulata is found|author=Eli Agbayani|accessdate=2007-04-24}}</ref>

However, guppies have been introduced to many different countries on all continents, except Antarctica. Sometimes this has occurred accidentally, but most often as a means of ] control, the hope being that the guppies would eat the mosquito ] slowing down the spread of ]. In many cases, these guppies have had a ] on native fish faunas.<ref>{{FishBase_species|genus= Poecilia |species= reticulata |year=2007|month=April}}</ref>

==Ecology and behaviour==
There is a great deal of variety between the populations, many with distinctive coloring or patterning. Those that live in habitats where predators are common tend to be less vividly decorated as a protective measure. Populations that deal with fewer predators are much more colorful. Recent studies suggest that vividly colored males are favored via sexual selection (]) while ] via predation favors subdued tones. As a result, the dominant ]s observed within a reproductively isolated community are a function of the relative importance each factor has in a particular environment.

Occasionally male guppies may behave aggressively towards each other, engaging in fin-nipping and other bullying behaviour. Guppies live in complex social networks, choosing social partners and remembering them. <ref>Croft, D. P., J. Krause and R. James (2004) Social networks in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). ''Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Biology Letters'' '''271''': 516-519.</ref>.

Guppies are a seminal species for evolutionary biologists because predation often varies over small geographic areas. Both historical work and recent studies are summarised in 's .

==Reproduction==
]
Guppies are highly prolific livebearers<ref>'''Guppy'''. ''Encyclopaedia Britannica''. 2007. . Retrieved on ]-].</ref>. The ] of a guppy is 22-30 days, with an average of 28 days. After the female guppy is inseminated, a dark area near the anus, known as the gravid spot, will enlarge and darken. Guppies prefer water temperatures of about 28 °C (82 °F) for reproduction. The female guppy has drops of between 2-100 ], typically ranging between 30 and 60. After giving birth, the female is ready for conception again within only a few hours.

The guppy has been successfully hybridised with the molly (poecilia latipinna/velifera), eg male guppy and female molly. However, the hybrids are always males and appear to be infertile.

The guppy has also been hybridised with the Endler's livebearer.

==In the aquarium==
]
<!-- Guppies survive well in a closed environment.{{fact}} -->
The guppy prefers a ] ] and can withstand levels of ] up to 150% that of normal ].<ref>Chervinski, J. (1984) Salinity tolerance of the guppy, ''Poecilia reticulata'' Peters. ''Journal of Fish Biology'' '''24''': 449-452.</ref>, 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 ] and ]s and occasionally other fish with prominent fins such as ]. Its most famous characteristic is its propensity for breeding, and it can breed in both fresh water and marine aquariums.<ref>Shikano T, and Fujio Y. 1997. Successful propagation in seawater of the guppy Poecilia reticulata with reference to high salinity tolerance at birth. ''FISHERIES SCIENCE'' ''63'': 573-575</ref>

Guppy breeding by aquarists produces variations in appearance ranging from color consistency to fantails and "spike" swordtails. Selective breeding has created an avid "fancy guppy" collector group, while the "wild" guppy maintains its popularity as one of the hardiest aquarium fish.

Experienced aquarists breeding their own guppies are aware that the adults will eat their young and, therefore, provide safe zones for the fry. Specially designed livebearer birthing tanks, which can be suspended inside the aquarium, are available from aquatic retailers. These serve the dual purpose of shielding the pregnant female from further attention from the males, and of providing a separate area for the newborn young as protection from being eaten by their mother. Although if a female is put in the breeder box too early or late it will cause her to have a miscarriage.

==See also==
*'']'', the '''Endler guppy'''
*'']'', the '''swamp guppy'''

== External links ==
{{commons|Poecilia reticulata}}
* {{ITIS|ID=165903|taxon=Poecilia reticulata|year=2004|date=June 8}}
* {{FishBase_species|genus=Poecilia|species=reticulata|year=2004|month=April}}

== References ==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
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Revision as of 17:32, 10 December 2007