FERNANDEZ, A. A.*; MORRIS, M. R.; Ohio University: Pre-existing sensory bias in the Poeciliidae?: additional insight from two Xiphophorus species

Previous research has shown that sailfin mollies and guppies prefer red/orange colored objects in a non-mating context. As some guppies also have a mate preference for orange, it has been argued that this preference may have resulted from a sensory bias. That is, these species evolved female preferences for red-orange coloration through selection for other functions (e.g. feeding). Sensory biases may explain the initial evolution of a preference, however the preference could be further modified by natural selection on foraging behavior and/or through sexual selection. Here we further examine the generality of this bias in Poeciliidae, and investigate two species within the genus Xiphophorus, X. cortezi and X. variatus. It should be noted that both of these species have the potential for orange body coloration (i.e. trait). Chromatic preferences for eight differently colored discs were examined by measuring three variables: 1) entries into each color zone 2) duration of zone entries 3) pecks at colored discs. Our results indicate that X. variatus and X. cortezi do not prefer red and/or orange objects more than objects of other color and lack a specific color preference based upon zone entries and duration of zone entries. These results, in conjuction with previous work, are discussed in a phylogenetic context to address the possible presence of a pre-existing sensory bias within this system.