Freshwater Homes

Guppies can thrive in many different freshwater environments, and this passage explores the places they call home. Readers learn that guppies live in rivers, streams, ponds, and lakes, especially in warm tropical regions of South America and the Caribbean. The passage also explains how people have introduced guppies to many other parts of the world because of their ability to eat mosquito larvae. Students discover why warm water, plant cover, and freshwater conditions are especially important for guppy survival.

This worksheet helps students connect habitat conditions with an animal’s basic needs. They practice identifying environmental details, comparing natural and introduced habitats, and explaining how adaptations help guppies survive in different places. Vocabulary related to tropical climates, freshwater, shelter, adaptation, and invasive species can be explored through the reading. It also encourages students to think about how animals can affect ecosystems when people move them into new environments.