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The Reproductive Behaviour of Aequidens paraguayensis (Pisces, Cichlidae)
Author(s) -
Timms A. M.,
Keenleyside M. H. A.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
zeitschrift für tierpsychologie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0044-3573
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1975.tb00896.x
Subject(s) - biology , litter , churning , zoology , reproductive behavior , paternal care , ecology , demography , offspring , pregnancy , population , genetics , labour economics , sociology , family planning , economics , research methodology
The reproductive behaviour of aquarium‐held Aequidens paraguayensis is described, with emphasis on a quantitative comparison of male‐female parental roles. It is a biparental species. Eggs, laid on leaf litter, are guarded and aerated for about 32 hours (25–27° C) and newly‐hatched young are orally brooded for several days. Both sexes performed all parental activities; ♀♀ did more fanning and mouthing of eggs, ♂♂ more oral churning of young initially. The combination of substrate and oral brooding of young by both parents is rare among New World cichlids and is of interest for the study of the evolution of parental behaviour in fishes.