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© 1997 International Society for Behavioral Ecology

research-article

Male Sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) copy the mate choice of other males

Ingo Schluppa and Michael J. Ryanb

aUniversity of Texas at Austin, Department of Zoology Austin, Texas 78712,USA bUniversität Hamburg, Zoologisches Institut und Zoologishes Museum Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, D-20146 Hamburg, Germany

ABSTRACT

Female mate-copying has been shown to occur between heterospecifics: female sailfin mollies Poecilia latipinna copy the choice of their gynogenetic associates, Amazon mollies P. formosa. Female mate-copying thus contributes to the maintenance of this asexual-sexual species complex by providing an advantage to male sailfin mollies that mate with Amazon females; because of mate-copying these males increase their attractiveness to conspecific females. Here we show that male mate-copying, an unreported phenomenon, also occurs and that it can reverse male preferences for conspecific females. Male mate-copying should also contribute to the maintenance of gynogens and might be advantageous in allowing males a means to rapidly assess female receptivity although sometimes resulting in heterospedfic matings.

Key words: Heterospecific matings, mate choice, mate-copying, Pisces, Poecilia formosa, Poecilia latipinna, Poeciliidae, Teleotei.


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