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Male mating behaviour of a molly, Poecilia latipunctata: a third host for the sperm-dependent Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa

Male mating behaviour of a molly, Poecilia latipunctata: a third host for the sperm-dependent... The Tamesí molly, Poecilia latipunctata, has a very limited biogeographical range in northeast Mexico. This area is nested within the ranges of the Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana, and the unisexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa. Based on morphology, especially fin shape, the Tamesí molly has been considered to be a "short-fin" molly. We describe the courtship sequence of P. latipunctata. The courtship clearly places the species into the clade of "long-fin" mollies, a finding that corroborates earlier studies based on nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. All three species live together in certain habitats. This renders P. latipunctata a potential host species for the sperm-dependent, unisexual Amazon molly. Using behavioural tests, we demonstrate that P. latipunctata males actually copulate with Amazon mollies, despite a pronounced preference for conspecific females. In laboratory experiments P. latipunctata males are capable of triggering embryogenesis in P. formosa females. Field observations support the hypothesis that P. latipunctata is a third host species for P. formosa, indicating that the Amazon molly effectively exploits all available host species for its gynogenetic mode of reproduction. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png acta ethologica Springer Journals

Male mating behaviour of a molly, Poecilia latipunctata: a third host for the sperm-dependent Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa

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Publisher
Springer Journals
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 by Springer-Verlag and ISPA
Subject
Life Sciences; Behavioral Sciences; Zoology; Evolutionary Biology
ISSN
0873-9749
DOI
10.1007/s10211-002-0065-2
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The Tamesí molly, Poecilia latipunctata, has a very limited biogeographical range in northeast Mexico. This area is nested within the ranges of the Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana, and the unisexual Amazon molly, Poecilia formosa. Based on morphology, especially fin shape, the Tamesí molly has been considered to be a "short-fin" molly. We describe the courtship sequence of P. latipunctata. The courtship clearly places the species into the clade of "long-fin" mollies, a finding that corroborates earlier studies based on nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. All three species live together in certain habitats. This renders P. latipunctata a potential host species for the sperm-dependent, unisexual Amazon molly. Using behavioural tests, we demonstrate that P. latipunctata males actually copulate with Amazon mollies, despite a pronounced preference for conspecific females. In laboratory experiments P. latipunctata males are capable of triggering embryogenesis in P. formosa females. Field observations support the hypothesis that P. latipunctata is a third host species for P. formosa, indicating that the Amazon molly effectively exploits all available host species for its gynogenetic mode of reproduction.

Journal

acta ethologica – Springer Journals

Published: Sep 10, 2002

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