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Barbados millions (Poecilia reticulata) — Poeciliidae

Barbados millions

Poecilia reticulata
Family: Poeciliidae
LC · Least Concern

The Barbados millions (Poecilia reticulata) is a brackish-water fish of the family Poeciliidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
5 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is one of the best-known aquarium fishes in the world, a small livebearing freshwater fish of the family Poeciliidae, native to northern South America. The species shows strong sexual dimorphism: males are only a few centimetres but very colourful with a fan-shaped tail, while the larger females are plain grey. Guppies live in very diverse waters, from turbid ditches to clear mountain streams, and reproduce rapidly by internal fertilisation and bearing live young. They eat mosquito larvae, small invertebrates and algae. They have been introduced worldwide, often to control mosquitoes.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Barbados millions?

The Barbados millions has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly multicoloured and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Barbados millions live?

The Barbados millions lives in brackish water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Barbados millions get?

The Barbados millions grows to a maximum of about 5 cm. On average the species is around 3 cm.

Is the Barbados millions dangerous to humans?

No, the Barbados millions is harmless to humans.

Is the Barbados millions edible?

The Barbados millions is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gup sourced
English name
Barbados millions verified
Scientific name
Poecilia reticulata
Family
Poeciliidae
Other names
Guppies; Guppy verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.0 verified
Average length (cm)
2.8 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Multicoloured inferred
Pattern
Spots inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Poecilia

More from the family Poeciliidae

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