FEMALE CHOICE IN A FERAL GUPPY POPULATION - ARE THERE MULTIPLE CUES

Mating behaviour in a feral guppy, Poecilia reticulata, population from Durban, South Africa was examined. Males bear carotenoid (orange) and melanin (black) spots and low levels of iridescent and yellow pigment. Areas of colour, body size and lengths of the dorsal fin and intromittent organ (gonopodium) were studied as female mate-choice cues. Attractiveness was positively related to the degree of orange coloration in all tests, and with the length of the gonopodium in some tests. Asymmetry of colour spots was investigated and it was concluded that either orange and black spots are not condition-dependent ornaments or the expected negative relationship between expression of condition-dependent ornaments and fluctuating asymmetry does not occur in these guppies. Several hypotheses regarding the maintenance of multiple secondary sexual characters are discussed. (C) 1995 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour