guppy

name

1. A surname.

noun

Etymology: From a name mistakenly assigned, Girardinus guppii, after biologist Robert J. L. Guppy, to previously assigned Poecilia reticulata.

1. A tiny freshwater fish, Poecilia reticulata, popular in home aquariums, that usually has a plain body and black or dark blue tail for the females and a more colorful tail for the males. The guppies can vary in size, but males are 4 cm (1.6”) and females are 7 cm (2.8”).

   “Fred kept a tank of guppies by the windowsill.”

2. Any tiny fish.

   “Throw that one back; it’s just a guppy!”

3. A tube holding paintballs before they are loaded into the gun.

   “I reached into my pack and grabbed a guppy to reload. Pouring in the contents, I kept my eyes ahead as I was supposed to do.”

4. A hold across the palm of the hand rather than the fingertips.
5. Acanthocephalus guppii
6. Acanthocephalus reticulatus
7. Girardinus guppii
8. Girardinus petersi
9. Girardinus poeciloides
10. Girardinus reticulatus
11. Haridichthys reticulatus
12. Heterandria guppyi
13. Lebistes poecilioides
14. Lebistes reticulatus
15. Poecilia poeciloides
16. Poecilioides reticulatus