Mate guarding in an Amazonian cichlid, Pterophyllum scalare |
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| Authors: | M E Yamamoto S Chellappa † M S R F Cacho F A Huntingford ‡§ |
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| Institution: | Department of Physiology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitario, Av. Salgado Filho, 3000, Lagoa Nova, Natal, RN, CEP 59.072-970 Brazil;Department of Oceanography and Limnology, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande do Norte, Praia de Mae Luiza, s/n, Natal, RN, CEP 59.014-100, Brazil;Division of Environmental and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Graham Kerr Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, U.K. |
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| Abstract: | Aggression by Pterophyllum scalare to an opposite sexed intruder was markedly reduced when the mate was absent. Territorial defence was not vigorous just after the eggs had been released and fertilized. Fish of both sexes attacked intruders of the same sex more intensely than they attacked those of the opposite sex, but males were more aggressive than females in this context. These results suggest that their aggression toward intruders serves to maintain the pair bond. |
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| Keywords: | cichlid aggression mate guarding |
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