The
guppy (
Poecilia reticulata), also known as the
millionfish,
[1] is one of the most popular
freshwater aquarium fish species in the world. It is a small member of the
Poeciliidae family (females 4–6 centimetres (1.6–2.4 in) long, males 2.5–3.5 centimetres (1.0–1.4 in) long) and like all other members of the family, is
live-bearing.
Taxonomy
Robert John Lechmere Guppy discovered this tiny fish in
Trinidad in 1866, and the fish was named
Girardinus guppii in his honour by
Albert Günther later that year. However, the fish had previously been described in America. Although
Girardinus guppii is now considered a
junior synonym of
Poecilia reticulata, the common name "guppy" still remains.
Over time guppies have been given a variety of
taxonomic names, although
Poecilia reticulata is the name currently considered to be valid.
[2]
Distribution
Guppies are native to
Antigua and Barbuda,
Barbados,
Brazil,
Guyana,
Netherlands Antilles,
Trinidad and Tobago, the
U.S. Virgin Islands and
Venezuela.
[3][4]
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
mosquito control, the hope being that the guppies would eat the mosquito
larvae slowing down the spread of
malaria. In many cases, these guppies have had a
negative impact on native fish faunas.
[5]
