GENETIC BASIS FOR ALTERNATIVE REPRODUCTIVE TACTICS IN THE PYGMY SWORDTAIL, XIPHOPHORUS NIGRENSIS

Differences in adult male size and age at sexual maturity in the Río Coy (Mexico) population of Xiphophorus nigrensis (Pisces; Poeciliidae) are controlled by genetic variation at a Y‐linked locus. Four genetic size‐classes have been identified. The mating behavior of the males of the three largest size‐classes consists exclusively of an elaborate courtship display, whereas that of the genetically small males ranges from display to a sneak‐chase attempt at copulation. In the presence of large males, small males switch to the sneak‐chase behavior. Females prefer the display of large males. In mating‐competition experiments (two females with one large male and one small male), the large males are dominant and deny the small males access to females. From 20 such experiments, 601 large‐male and 200 small‐male progeny were obtained, indicating that the switch to sneak‐chase behavior by small males is not particularly effective in overcoming the large‐male advantage. By using the largest males of the genetically smallest size class and the smallest males of the genetically next‐larger size‐class, size was kept constant, whereas genotype was varied. When these males were tested in competition with genetically large males, only the males of the genetically smallest size class showed sneak‐chase behavior. These observations suggest that the difference in mating behavior is not an indirect developmental effect of size but, rather, is under direct genetic control.