Guppies

A.Description of guppies(Poecilia reticulata)

-also known as million fish and rainbow fish

-one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish

-and is also one of the most popular freshwater aquarium

fish species

- member of the Poeciliidae family

-natural range is in northeast South America

-now found all over the world

-highly adaptable and thrive in many different 

environmental and ecological conditions

-Male guppies are smaller than females

-females are duller in colour

-Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food source 

including benthic algae and aquatic insect larvae

-used as a model organism in the field of ecology, evolution, and behavioral studies

B.Interesting facts on guppies

-Guppies are named after the man who discovered them

-You can see baby guppies’ eyes before they’re even born!

-Guppies are known as the millionfish

-A female guppy can give birth to well over 100 fry at a time

-Guppies mature very quickly

-Guppies will eat their own babies!

-Female guppies store sperm

- Guppies can live for up to five years

-Guppies have been used to fight malaria

C.Importance/role of guppies in the ecosystem

-they help eat algae which maintain the number of producers in the ecosystem and also insect larva to help control the number of mosquito as they would harm mankind

D.Food chain of guppies

benthic algae--->guppies--->puffer fish--->shark 

F.Threats to guppies

- Guppies' small bodies and the bright coloration of males make them easy prey so their predators can spot them easily

G.Conservation of guppies
 -although not at risk of extinction themselves, make for an excellent model system to study the effects of introductions on local adaptation and population growth



      Guppies