*Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, U.K.
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Female guppies Poecilia reticulata prefer males that can learn fast
Article first published online: 9 NOV 2009
DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02366.x
© 2009 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2009 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Additional Information
How to Cite
Shohet, A. J. and Watt, P. J. (2009), Female guppies Poecilia reticulata prefer males that can learn fast. Journal of Fish Biology, 75: 1323–1330. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2009.02366.x
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*Present address: School of Biological Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QG, U.K.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 NOV 2009
- Article first published online: 9 NOV 2009
- (Received 8 January 2009, Accepted 2 June 2009)
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- cognition;
- learning;
- mate choice;
- sexual selection
The role of learning ability as a potentially desirable male trait in sexual selection was investigated in the guppy Poecilia reticulata. Mate preference tests and the rate at which a male learnt two mazes were used to determine whether female preference was related to male learning ability. In addition, male body size and saturation of the orange patches were measured. Female preference was found to be related to rate of learning, such that males that learnt the mazes faster were found to be more attractive to females, but was not found to be related to body size or saturation.