guppy
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A small, brightly colored, live-bearing freshwater fish (Poecilia reticulata) native to northeastern South America and some Caribbean islands. It is one of the most popular and widely distributed aquarium fish in the world, known for its hardiness, vibrant colors, and prolific breeding.
Usage and Examples
- Basic Usage: The word "guppy" refers specifically to this species of fish.
- The children were fascinated by the colorful guppies in the aquarium.
- She added a few new guppies to her community tank.
Advanced Usage
- Scientific/Common Name Distinction: In formal contexts, the full scientific name may be used, but "guppy" is the standard common name in both casual and scientific English.
- The study focused on the mating behavior of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata.
Variants and Related Words
- Guppies: The standard plural form.
- The store sells dozens of guppies every week.
- Fancy Guppy: A term for selectively bred varieties with elaborate fin shapes and color patterns.
- He specializes in breeding fancy guppies for competitions.
Synonyms
- Rainbow fish (an occasional common name, but can cause confusion with other species).
- Millionfish (an occasional common name referring to its rapid reproduction).
Related Phrases and Terms
- Guppy grass (): A common aquarium plant, named for its suitability in guppy breeding tanks as a hiding place for fry (baby fish).
- Adding guppy grass helps increase the survival rate of the young.
- Guppy fry: The term for newborn or very young guppies.
- The female guppy gave birth to over thirty guppy fry.
Noun
- small freshwater fish of South America and the West Indies; often kept in aquariums