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Observations on Phago loricatus, an ectoparasitic fish from the Niger Delta region of West Africa
Author(s) -
Jr. John E. Burchard,
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1968.tb03026.x
Subject(s) - biology , fish <actinopterygii> , field (mathematics) , zoology , ecology , fishery , mathematics , pure mathematics
Phago loricatus Güuth. (order Cypriniformes, family Ichthyboridae) is a small, elongate, superficially pike‐like fish distributed rather widely in West African streams. Field observations, made while diving, show that it is parasitic, feeding on pieces bitten from the fins of other fishes. This confirms an earlier finding (Matthes, 1961) of bits of fins in the stomachs of several species of Ichthyboridae. The behaviour of P. loricatus in stalking and attacking its victims is described on the basis of numerous field observations. Impressions of its success and its effects on its victims, under different habitat conditions, are also considered. The jaws and teeth of Phago are figured and briefly described.