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Colour forms of Amazonian cichlid fish represent reproductively isolated species
Author(s) -
READY J. S.,
SAMPAIO I.,
SCHNEIDER H.,
VINSON C.,
DOS SANTOS T.,
TURNER G. F.
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.1420-9101.2006.01088.x
Subject(s) - cichlid , allopatric speciation , biology , reproductive isolation , amazonian , zoology , mate choice , ecology , amazon rainforest , genetic algorithm , fish <actinopterygii> , evolutionary biology , population , fishery , mating , demography , sociology
Laboratory mate choice experiments have confirmed species status for cichlid fish in the African Great Lakes that differ in colour and little else. Colour differences between allopatric populations of the South American cichlid genus Apistogramma are known for many species, yet the status of such populations has not been previously tested. Analysis of the genetic relationships and mate choice characteristics of populations previously described as Apistogramma caetei from eastern Amazonia indicates genetic differentiation into at least three allopatric lineages, which also show strong prezygotic isolation through female mate choice, confirming them as Biological species. If future studies confirm that this result is indicative of a general trend, the species richness of the South American cichlid fishes may presently be seriously underestimated.