Rivulus marmoratus is a self-fertilizing hermaphroditic fish found in the t
ropical Atlantic as populations of homozygous clones, with the exception of
a single site in Belize where male fish are abundant and heterozygosity is
the norm. The presence of male fish apparently leads to outcrossing and he
terozygosity, but males have been found in limited numbers in other populat
ions which are homozygous. DNA fingerprinting now reveals that the Belize p
opulation has remained heterozygous, with a high proportion of males (20-25
%), for several years. In addition, two newly discovered populations with a
lower percentage of males (1-2%) are reported from the Bahamas and Hondura
s. One of these populations (Bahamas) consists of homozygous clones, while
the other (Honduras) displays a limited proportion of heterozygosity. The H
onduras population is only the second outcrossing population known in this
species, and the limited heterozygosity seen here may reflect the lower pro
portion of males.