Male sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) copy the mate choice of other males

Female mate-copying has been shown to occur between heterospecifics: female sailfin mollies Poecilia latipinna copy the choice of their gynogenetic associates, Amazon mollies P. formosa. Female mate-copying thus contributes to the maintenance of this asexual-sexual species complex by providing an advantage to male sailfin mollies that mate with Amazon females; because of mate-copying these males increase their attractiveness to conspecific females. Here we show that male mate-copying, an unreported phenomenon, also occurs and that it can reverse male preferences for conspecific females. Male mate-copying should also contribute to the maintenance of gynogens and might be advantageous in allowing males a means to rapidly assess female receptivity although sometimes resulting in heterospecific matings.