Bony fish · Cyprinodontiformes · Poeciliidae

Guppy

Poecilia reticulata

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the most studied species in evolutionary biology: populations under greater predation pressure mature earlier, invest more in breeding and live longer than those at low risk.

Size

1.5 cm – 6 cm

Lifespan

2 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

School

Gathers in coordinated schools, typical of fish.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterOmnivore Diurnal In schools Fish Freshwater

108countries4same family

Fun facts

It is live-bearing: the young are born fully formed and swim straight away.
It eats algae, small invertebrates and mosquito larvae.
It has been widely introduced around the world to control mosquitoes.
reproducciónIt breeds very fast, and females can store sperm from several males, so one brood may have young by different fathers.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - bony skeleton (fish)
Habitat & environment: Warm streams, rivers and fresh water of South America and the Caribbean; widely introduced worldwide
Birth weight: The young fully formed at birth (a viviparous species)
Size at birth: Born fully formed, able to swim and avoid danger at once
Sexual maturity: Male: ~7-8 weeks | Female: 10-20 weeks
Gestation / incubation: 21-35 days (average ~28 days)
Litter / clutch size: 3 to over 100 young per litter, the female able to store sperm for several litters from a single mating
Lifespan in captivity: 2-3 years in captivity

Sources consulted: A-Z Animals; Fishlore; ResearchGate (breeding biology study); FishBase; AquaHoy; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); KÜRE Encyclopedia; EasyClean Aquatics