Poecilia parae, also known as the melanzona guppy, is a species of fish from the familyPoeciliidae which is found in northern South America from Guyana to the mouth of the Amazon River.[1]
Poecilia parae are known to have a number of colour morphs in the males, at least five distinct morphs are known, while there is a single female colour form. The colour of the male is linked to the Y-chromosome. Some of the morphs are always abundant in the wild, and others are invariably rare leading to the conclusion that the colour of the males has implications for their fitness. Laboratory work has shown that the most frequent morph is also the most reproductively successful morph. However, when the females were given the choice between two different males they preferred the rare morph males over the common morph males. This suggests that there are alternative male mating strategies involved such as sperm competition and overt male-male competition, among other possible factors, which override the preferences of the female fishes.[2]
Poecilia parae is found in estuaries in areas of both fresh and brackish water. It inhabits small swamps and shallow, slow-flowing creeks located inland with very fresh water. It is also found along riverine vegetation where there is clear water and a bed of mixed sand and mud. They are an ovoviviparous species and the females give birth to 5 to 15 live young after a gestation period of 24 days.[1]
