For guppies (Poecilia reticulata) getting ready to mate, the color orange speaks volumes. The research dives into the evolutionary mystery of why male fish have such vibrant and bold colors and patterns. YE AUNG THUIn this new study on guppies, zoologists Wouter van der Bijl and Judith Mank from The University of British Columbia in Canada bred three generations of increasingly orange guppies. While it’s a known fact that female guppies prefer orange and unusual patterns on their male partners, the team found that the same cells that form their brains also control color diversity on their bodies. “We often look at extreme examples to understand where genetic variation comes from and how it’s maintained.”