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
  • 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, is a member of the family Poeciliidae and, akin to most New World members of the family, is considered a livebearer. 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 insects.

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. Guppies are used as a model organism in the fields of ecology, evolution, and behavioural studies.