Premium
Phylogenetic relationships and evolution of cleaning behaviour in the family Labridae: importance of body colour pattern
Author(s) -
ARNAL C.,
VERNEAU O.,
DESDEVISES Y.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.01059.x
Subject(s) - biology , context (archaeology) , phylogenetic tree , phylogenetic comparative methods , fish <actinopterygii> , zoology , fishery , ecology , evolutionary biology , gene , paleontology , genetics
The family Labridae contains numerous fishes known to act as cleaners in the wild. Previous studies suggested that a small body size and specific colour patterns may be prerequisites for cleaning. We investigated whether cleaning behaviour is linked to particular fish phenotypes. We first present a phylogeny based on partial 12S rRNA gene sequences of 32 wrasses sampled from different localities in the Indo‐Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and in the Mediterranean Sea. Secondly, descriptive data (fish body size, fish body shape and fish body colour patterns) were analyzed in a phylogenetic context using comparative methods. We found no relationship between fish cleaning behaviour and fish body size and shape, but instead a correlation between cleaning behaviour and the presence of a dark lateral stripe within wrasses. Our results suggest that the evolution of cleaning depends upon the presence of a dark median lateral stripe on the fish body surface.