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Melanochromis Crabro Sp. Nov.: a Cichlid Fish From Lake Malawi Which Feeds On Ectoparasites and Catfish Eggs

Melanochromis Crabro Sp. Nov.: a Cichlid Fish From Lake Malawi Which Feeds On Ectoparasites and... MELANOCHROMIS CRABRO SP. NOV.: A CICHLID FISH FROM LAKE MALAWI WHICH FEEDS ON ECTOPARASITES AND CATFISH EGGS by A. J. RIBBINK1 and D. S. C. LEWIS2 (1: J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa ; 2: Fisheries Research Station, Monkey Bay, Malawi) SUMMARY Melanochromis crabro sp. nov., a member of the "Mbuna" group, is described from Lake Malawi. It feeds upon a variety of foods, but appears to be adapted to feed on Argulus africanus, a branchiuran parasite commonly found on the catfish, Bagrus meridionalis. It is suggested that the host-cleaner association also facilitates an egg-stealing habit, since M. crabro robs B. meridionalis of its eggs which are laid on the substratum. INTRODUCTION The endemic rock frequenting cichlids of Lake Malawi display a re- markable degree of adaptive radiation and utilize a wide variety of food resources (FRYER, 1959; FRYER & ILES, 1972). These include various components of the conglomerate of algae and invertebrates (Aufwuchs) which forms a mat over the rock surfaces, phytoplankton, zooplankton, insect larvae and nymphs, scales and fins of other fishes, molluscs, and eggs and juveniles of other cichlids. Recent field studies have brought to light two more dietary components which http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Netherlands Journal of Zoology (in 2003 continued as Animal Biology) Brill

Melanochromis Crabro Sp. Nov.: a Cichlid Fish From Lake Malawi Which Feeds On Ectoparasites and Catfish Eggs

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Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 1981 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
0028-2960
eISSN
1568-542X
DOI
10.1163/002829682X00058
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

MELANOCHROMIS CRABRO SP. NOV.: A CICHLID FISH FROM LAKE MALAWI WHICH FEEDS ON ECTOPARASITES AND CATFISH EGGS by A. J. RIBBINK1 and D. S. C. LEWIS2 (1: J. L. B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Grahamstown, South Africa ; 2: Fisheries Research Station, Monkey Bay, Malawi) SUMMARY Melanochromis crabro sp. nov., a member of the "Mbuna" group, is described from Lake Malawi. It feeds upon a variety of foods, but appears to be adapted to feed on Argulus africanus, a branchiuran parasite commonly found on the catfish, Bagrus meridionalis. It is suggested that the host-cleaner association also facilitates an egg-stealing habit, since M. crabro robs B. meridionalis of its eggs which are laid on the substratum. INTRODUCTION The endemic rock frequenting cichlids of Lake Malawi display a re- markable degree of adaptive radiation and utilize a wide variety of food resources (FRYER, 1959; FRYER & ILES, 1972). These include various components of the conglomerate of algae and invertebrates (Aufwuchs) which forms a mat over the rock surfaces, phytoplankton, zooplankton, insect larvae and nymphs, scales and fins of other fishes, molluscs, and eggs and juveniles of other cichlids. Recent field studies have brought to light two more dietary components which

Journal

Netherlands Journal of Zoology (in 2003 continued as Animal Biology) – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 1981

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