Occasional egg-eating by the scale-eater Plecodus straeleni (Cichlidae) of Lake Tanganyika (original) (raw)

Synopsis

Of 23 males and 39 females of Plecodus straeleni observed for one hour each, 2 males and 14 females searched for the mouthbrooder Cyathopharynx furcifer under courtship display near or in the bower to get eggs, besides foraging for other prey to ripe off scales and skin. After finding a courting C. furcifer, they quietly waited on the substrate near the bower until it spawned. Immediately after spawning, the waiting P. straeleni dashed upon the female of C. furcifer and quickly collected the eggs. This egg-eating was achieved 5 times by 3 females who spent most of their time searching and waiting.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
• Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
• Cancel anytime View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References cited

• Balon, E.K. 1977. Early ontogeny of Labeotropheus Ahl, 1927 (Mbuna, Cichlidae, Lake Malawi), with a discussion on advanced protective styles in fish reproduction and development. Env. Biol. Fish. 2: 147–176.
  Google Scholar
• Brichard, P. 1978. Fishes of Lake Tanganyika. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 448 pp.
  Google Scholar
• Fryer, G. & T.D. Iles. 1972. The cichlid fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh. 641 pp.
  Google Scholar
• Greenwood, P.H. 1959. A revision of the Lake Victoria Haplochromic species (Pisces, Cichlidae), Part 3. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 5: 179–218.
  Google Scholar
• Greenwood, P.H. 1967. A revision of the Lake Victoria Haplochromis species (Pisces, Cichlidae), Part 6. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) 25: 139–242.
  Google Scholar
• Greenwood, P.H. 1974. The cichlid fishes of Lake Victoria, East Africa: the biology and evolution of a species flock. Bull. Br. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.) Suppl. 6, 1–134.
  Google Scholar
• Hori, M. 1988. Mutualism and commensalism in a fish community in Lake Tanganyika. pp. 219–239. In: S. Kawano, J.H. Connell & T. Hidaka (ed.) Evolution and Coadaptation in Biotic Communities, University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo.
  Google Scholar
• Konings, A. 1988. Tanganyika cichlids. Verduijn Cichlids & Lake Fish Movies, Zevenhuizen. 272 pp.
  Google Scholar
• Kuwamura, T. 1986. Parental care and mating systems of cichlid fishes in Lake Tanganyika: a preliminary field survey. J. Ethol. 4: 129–146.
  Google Scholar
• Liem, K.F. & D.J. Stewart. 1976. Evolution of the scale-eating cichlid fishes of Lake Tanganyika: a generic revision with a description of a new species. Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 147: 319–350.
  Google Scholar
• Lowe-McConnell, R.H. 1987. Ecological studies in tropical fish communities. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 382 pp.
  Google Scholar
• Marlier, G. & N. Leleup. 1954. A curious ecological ‘niche’ among the fishes of Lake Tanganyika. Nature 174: 935–936.
  Google Scholar
• McKaye, K.R. & T. Kocher. 1983. Head ramming behavior by three paedophagous cichlids in Lake Malawi, Africa. Anim. Behav. 31: 206–210.
  Google Scholar
• Nshombo, M., Y. Yanagisawa & M. Nagoshi. 1985. Scale-eating in Perissodus microlepis (Cichlidae) and change of its food habits with growth. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 32: 66–73.
  Google Scholar
• Poll, M. 1956. Poissons Cichlidae. Exploration hydrobiologique du Lac Tanganyika (1946–1947), 3, Fasc. 5b: 58–59.
• Ribbink, A.J., B.A. Marsh, A.C. Marsh, A.C. Ribbink & B.J. Sharp. 1983. A preliminary survey of the cichlid fishes of rocky habitats in Lake Malawi. S. Afr. J. Zool. 18: 149–310.
  Google Scholar
• Sato, T. 1986. A brood parasitic catfish of mouthbrooding cichlid fishes in Lake Tanganyika. Nature 323: 58–59.
  PubMed Google Scholar
• Sazima, I. 1983. Scale-eating in characoids and other fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 9: 87–101.
  Google Scholar
• Wilhelm, W. 1980. The disputed feeding behavior of a paedophagous haplochromine cichlid (Pisces) observed and discussed. Behaviour 74: 310–323.
  Google Scholar
• Yanagisawa, Y., M. Nshombo, M. Nishida & Y. Niimura. 1990. Sexual dichromatism and food habits of the scale-eater Plecodus straeleni (Cichlidae, Teleostei) in Lake Tanganyika. J. Ethol. (in press).

Download references

Author information

Author notes

1. Muderhwa Nshombo
   Present address: Centre de Recherche en Sciences Naturelles du Zaire, B.P.254, Bujumbura, Burundi, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Biology, Ehime University, 790, Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Japan
   Muderhwa Nshombo

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nshombo, M. Occasional egg-eating by the scale-eater Plecodus straeleni (Cichlidae) of Lake Tanganyika.Environ Biol Fish 31, 207–212 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001022

Download citation

• Received: 06 February 1990
• Accepted: 20 July 1990
• Issue date: June 1991
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001022

Key words