Species of livebearer fish
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Poecilia picta, the swamp guppy, is a species of livebearer fish found in South America. It is closely related to the common guppy, "P. reticulata", and shares its geographic range but tends to be found in more brackish environments.
Taxonomy.
"P. picta" forms a clade with "P. parae" that is a sister taxon to the common guppy, "P. reticulata". Some authorities place the species in the genus "Poecilia", subgenus "Lebistes", along with "P. reticulata", "P. parae", "P. branneri", and "P. amazonica"; others place it in the genus "Micropoecilia" along with "P. parae" and "P. branneri".
Description.
Males grow to about 18 mm; females reach sexual maturity at that size too but, as in most other poeciliids, continue to grow, reaching 20 mm. Males also differ from females by being more colorful, with black-spotted bodies and black, yellow, or orange coloration in their dorsal and caudal fins. Three color morphs exist in the wild among males: standard, red, and gold. The colorful forms are known from mainland populations but not from the insular.
Distribution and habitat.
"P. picta" is distributed throughout northeastern South America, including Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela, and the Caribbean islands, a range it shares with the closely related guppies "P. reticulata" and "P. parae".
"P. picta" occurs in lowland habitats such as slowly-flowing waters at stream mouths and still water lagoons. These are often brackish. It tolerates a wide range of salinity levels but gradually disappears from upstream freshwater sites due to competition with "P. reticulata", which in turn avoids higher levels of salinity. The two species rarely form mixed shoals. "P. picta" commonly congregates among marginal aquatic plants.
Ecology.
"P. picta" is omnivorous, feeding on cyanobacteria and animal matter.
Potential predators found in its habitats include "Polycentrus schomburgkii", "Hoplias malabaricus", "Synbranchus marmoratus", "Astyanax bimaculatus", and "Roeboides dayi", the first two of which frequently prey on fish.
Reproduction.
"P. picta" is a livebearer. Males engage in a courtship display which involves circling the female's head and may be accepted or rejected by females. In stark contrast to the closely related "P. reticulata" and "P. parae", "P. picta" females show no preference for males with pronounced red or orange coloration. Females carry only one brood at a time. Larger females deliver more fry, with the number normally ranging from 7 to 11, but can reach 25 too.
References.
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