Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Social Control of Adult Size in Males of Xiphophorus variatus

Abstract

As in other species of poeciliid fish, male Xiphophorus variatus (Pisces, Poeciliidae) virtually cease growth at maturity. The size of an adult male, then, is determined by its average growth rate before it reaches maturity and the age at which this happens. The latter factor is under social control in this species. When I raised juvenile males in groups, they usually started to mature in sequence, largest first, and subsequently maturing males did not usually reach maturity until they were longer than all previously matured males. As a result, the juvenile size order was negatively correlated with adult size order. When the fish in a group were isolated from one another such patterns disappeared indicating that some degree of social interaction was necessary for their maintenance1.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Borowsky, R. L., thesis, Yale Univ. (1969).

  2. Borowsky, R. L., Physiol. Zool., 46, 22 (1973).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Fishelson, L., Nature, 227, 90 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Robertson, D. R., Science, N. Y., 177, 1007 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Barlow, G. W., Z. Tierpsychol., 27, 779 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

BOROWSKY, R. Social Control of Adult Size in Males of Xiphophorus variatus. Nature 245, 332–335 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/245332a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/245332a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing