Summary: Guppies in the wild have evolved over at least half-a-million years — long enough for the males' coloration to change dramatically. Yet a characteristic orange patch on male guppies has remained remarkably stable, though it could have become redder or more yellow. Why has it stayed the same hue of orange over such a long period of time? Well guppies have actually changed color over time but the female is most attracted to the orange colored guppy. The orange patches on male guppies are made up of two pigments: carotenoids (which they ingest in their diets and are yellow) and drosopterins (which are red and which their bodies produce). Carotenoids are the same pigments that provide color to vegetables and fruits. Plants produce carotenoids, but animals generally cannot; guppies obtain most of their carotenoids from algae.
Critique: THIS IS FREAKING AWESOME!!
Impact: Well now we know why they have stayed orange for the past million years.
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