The
guppy , also known as
millionfish and
rainbow fish, is one of the world's most widely distributed tropical fish, and one of the most popular
freshwater aquarium fish species. It is a member of the
Poeciliidae family and, like almost all American members of the family, is
live-bearing. Guppies, whose natural range is in northeast South America, were introduced to many habitats and are now found all over the world. They are highly adaptable and thrive in many different environmental and ecological conditions. Male guppies, which are smaller than females, have ornamental caudal and dorsal
fins, while females are duller in colour. Wild guppies generally feed on a variety of food sources, including
benthic algae and aquatic insect
larvae. Guppies are used as a model organism in the field of ecology, evolution, and behavioural studies.