Summary of Goldschmidt (1989)

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).