The Cichlid Fishes of Lake Malawi, Africa
 

Summary of Publication

Goldschmidt, T. 1989. Anal spots (egg dummies) in relation to light conditions in haplochromine cichlids (Pisces) from Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Pages 139-142 in: Crapon de Caprona, M.-D., and B. Fritzch (eds.). Proceedings of the Workshop on Biology, Ecology and Conservation of Cichlids, Bielefeld, West Germany, 24-27 February 1988. Annales de la Musée royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences Zoologiques 257.  

Preliminary results of an ecomorphological study on the anal spots of haplochromines are presented. A functional explanation for the form "anal spot" is given. At least two functional demands seem to be important in determining this form: 1) the aim of resembling an egg (intra-specific mimicry) and 2) the aim of being visible; conspicuousness of the anal spots may have a positive impact on the behaviour of conspecific ripe females (benefits), but predation risks may increase by the possession of conspicuous spots (costs).
 

 

 

 

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