Responses elicited by species-specific models in the cichlid Crenicichla lepidota (Heckel)

Species recognition by the cichlid fish C. lepidota was studied by measuring species-specific aggressive behavior toward either live conspecifics (control) or toward different two-dimensional models. A plain fish-shaped model elicited aggressive behavior, but the responses were mostly absent when th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of neuroscience Vol. 52; no. 1-2; p. 93
Main Authors Cravchik, A, Pazo, J H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.01.1990
Subjects
Aggression
Analysis of Variance
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Discrimination (Psychology)
Female
Fishes - physiology
Male
Species Specificity
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Summary:Species recognition by the cichlid fish C. lepidota was studied by measuring species-specific aggressive behavior toward either live conspecifics (control) or toward different two-dimensional models. A plain fish-shaped model elicited aggressive behavior, but the responses were mostly absent when the model was a rectangle. Adding heavy stripes to the fish-shaped form increased the responses, which were further enhanced by adding a spot. Comparable aggressive responses were also induced by adding spots and eye to dummies with thin stripes. We conclude that in our experimental conditions, fish-like shape and contrast seem to be of great significance for recognition of conspecifics in the cichlid C. lepidota (Heckel).
ISSN:0020-7454
DOI:10.3109/00207459008994248