Variabilichromis moorii

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Variabilichromis moorii
Variabilichromis moorii.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Subfamily: Pseudocrenilabrinae
Tribe: Lamprologini
Genus: Variabilichromis
Colombé & Allgayer, 1985
Species:
V. moorii
Binomial name
Variabilichromis moorii
(Boulenger, 1898)
Synonyms
  • Lamprologus moorii(Boulenger, 1898)
  • Neolamprologus moorii(Boulenger, 1898)

Variabilichromis moorii has no common name and is a species of freshwater cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. It is a small ovate bodied fish named for an early collector of fish from the lake, John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947) who was a cytologist, zoologist and led an expedition to Lake Tanganyika and who discovered this species. [2] Juveniles are usually yellow, and adults are dark brown to black in color. [3] It reaches a total length (TL) of 10.3 centimetres (4.1 in). Currently it is the only member of its genus. V. moorii feeds on algae, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates. It is also found in the aquarium trade. [4]

Contents

Shows Lake Tanganyika in Africa Shows Lake Tanganyika in African continent.jpg
Shows Lake Tanganyika in Africa

Taxonomy

V. moorii is the only member of the genus Varibilichromis, as well as a member of the tribe Lamprologini. It had previously been in the genus Neolamprologus , but in 1985, Colombé & Allgayer created the new monotypic genus Variabilichromis in order to account for a more ancestral supra-orbital bone structure. This was rejected by Poll's (1986) classification, but supported by Stiassny (1997). [5] Stiassny's classification kept the monotypic genus due to the aforementioned bone structure, as well as the existence of two other characteristics that are rare in the tribe Lamprilogini: their diet includes filamentous algae, and females have two working ovaries. [6]

Morphology and coloration

V. moorii adult, can see blue edges on fins Variabilichromis moorii en aquarium..jpg
V. moorii adult, can see blue edges on fins

V. moorii exhibit sexual dimorphism as adult females tend to be larger than adult males. [3] Adult males often have longer pelvic, dorsal, and anal fins than females do. [7]

Juvenile V. moorii Variabilichromis moorii juvenile..jpg
Juvenile V. moorii

Adults are black with electric blue edges on their tail, pectoral, and dorsal fins, whereas juveniles are yellow. [6] Geographically speaking, they show little variation in color.

Distribution & habitat

V. moorii is only found in the southern parts of Lake Tanganyika in Africa. They are found in rocky, relatively shallow areas in the littoral zone of the lake (less than 10 meters in depth). [6] It is one of the most abundant species in this region of the lake. [8]

Breeding and mating

V. moorii eggs on substrate Variabilichromis oeufs 380.jpg
V. moorii eggs on substrate

V. moorii is a substrate-breeder, with a male and female pair providing biparental care to their eggs and the young after they hatch. [5] This species exhibits serial monogamy, where a male and female are monogamous for at least one spawning cycle. [9] A female lays 200–500 eggs per brood, usually under an overhanging rock or within a rock crevice. [5] [10] Eggs take at least 3 days to hatch and newly hatched larvae are approximately 3.62 millimetres (0.143 in) (TL). They remain in the larval stage for 4 to 5 days, attached to the substrate by their head glands. They then develop into free-swimming fry and swim in a tight school close to the spawning site. Parents may defend the brood for up to 100 days, which is when fry reach about 3.3 centimetres (1.3 in) (TL). [11]

Lunar synchronicity in spawning

Spawning cycles in V. moorii correspond to the lunar cycle, with egg-laying taking place just before the full moon. This lunar-related reproductive periodicity is rare in freshwater organisms and far more common in organisms in marine environments. This periodicity probably evolved to decrease risk of predation when the fry are in their most vulnerable stages (as eggs and larvae), since the moon is at its brightest and the parents can best defend against nocturnal fry-eating fish. Such nocturnal predators also tend to avoid or move away from light and thus hunt less during the full moon. This lunar synchronicity confers greater benefit to V. moorii compared to other freshwater fish species because of V. moorii’s location in the tropical zone where the moonlight is more intense (since it is more perpendicular to the surface) and V. moorii tend to live in shallow waters that are easily penetrated by moonlight. [11]

Parasitic spawning and multiple paternity

V. moorii shows social but not genetic monogamy. Breeding adults spawn according to the lunar cycle and thus spawn synchronously (see Lunar synchronicity in spawning). This allows males to spawn on eggs that do not belong to the female he is mated to (also known as parasitic spawning). [12] All offspring within a single brood share the same mother but not the same father. A study found that broods are almost always sired by multiple males (at least two but sometimes more than ten), a rate which is exceptionally high compared to other multiply mating fish. The male mated to the mother of the brood will invest significant resources to protect the territory and brood even though he did not sire the majority of the fry. The female is related to the entire brood and the male is related only to a fraction of the brood, so the female would be expected to provide more care than the male. However, there is no great difference in male parental care and female parental care. [12]

Defending territory

V. moorii have individual territories for feeding and territories shared with a mate when spawning and raising their young.

Feeding territories

Individual V. moorii territories are defended for their food resources and territory owners will defend more aggressively against individuals of species with similar diets, including conspecifics. V. moorii feeding territories in deeper areas are larger than those in shallow areas. Population density decreases with greater depth, so a large territory in a deep area can be more easily defended from competitors than a similarly sized territory in a shallow area. There is also lower algal productivity at greater depths because less light is available for photosynthesis, which also contributes to larger territories with increasing depth. [13]

Breeding territories

V. moorii parents have a total defended territory that is several times larger than the core area (which is the area where the parents spend most of their time and where the brood is located). The male and female divide the total territory into roughly equal subterritories without much overlap, with the brood located in-between these two subterritories. The subterritory borders are not fixed and will shift throughout the day, depending on the presence of intruders. Upon seeing an intruder, a parent will quickly dart out of the core territory to chase the intruder away. [14] The parents will attack conspecifics as well as other fish species that enter the territory. Heterospecifics are attacked far more often than conspecifics, and include both predators (such as L. elongatus and N. fasciatus ) and non-predators (such as O. ventralis and T. moorii which compete with V. moorii for food). [14] V. moorii attack fry-eating fish entering their territory more often if their brood is larger. This is reasonable because the parents have a higher rate of return on parental investment in a large brood compared to a small one. V. moorii parents attack fry-eating fish more often than other types of fish, meaning they can concentrate their defensive efforts on the fish most dangerous to their fry. Rates of attack do not decrease significantly even as fry get older and larger because the environment has high predation pressure and even older fry will be quickly eaten without defense from the parents. [15]

Exploitation by Neolamprologus mustax

Male N. mustax Neolamprologus mustax male.jpg
Male N. mustax

V. moorii parents typically chase away other fish that enter their territory, but they are less aggressive toward members of the cichlid species N. mustax which are yellow in color, resembling V. moorii fry. N. mustax is the only other cichlid in V. moorii's habitat which is yellow. Experiments have shown that V. moorii are more aggressive toward black fish compared to yellow fish of the same size and shape. [16] N. mustax feed on benthic invertebrates and preferentially feed in V. moorii territories where benthic invertebrates much more abundant. This is due to V. moorii parents driving away other zoobenthivorous fish species, which often also prey on V. moorii fry. [17] Unlike other zoobenthivorous fish, N. mustax do not prey on V. moorii fry; if they did they would certainly be driven away. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cichlid</span> Family of fishes

Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Traditionally Cichlids were classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. On the basis of fossil evidence, it first appeared in Tanzania during the Eocene epoch, about 46–45 million years ago. The closest living relative of cichlids is probably the convict blenny, and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria. This family is large, diverse, and widely dispersed. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Tanganyika</span> Rift lake in east-central Africa

Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is the second-oldest freshwater lake in the world, the second-largest by volume, and the second-deepest, in all cases after Lake Baikal in Siberia. It is the world's longest freshwater lake. The lake is shared among four countries—Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, and Zambia. With Tanzania (46%) and DRC (40%) possessing the majority of the lake. It drains into the Congo River system and ultimately into the Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shell dwellers</span>

The terms shell dwellers or shelldwellers, shell-breeding, or ostracophil are descriptive terms for cichlid fish that use the empty shells of aquatic snails as sites for breeding and shelter. The terms have no taxonomic basis, although most shell-dwelling cichlids are from Lake Tanganyikas lamprologine lineage. Many shell dwelling cichlids are popular with fishkeepings and are frequently kept in aquaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convict cichlid</span> Species of fish

The convict cichlid is a fish species from the family Cichlidae, native to Central America, also known as the zebra cichlid. Convict cichlids are popular aquarium fish and have also been the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour.

<i>Neolamprologus brichardi</i> Species of fish

Neolamprologus brichardi is a species of cichlid endemic to the alkaline waters of Lake Tanganyika in East Africa. It is a popular aquarium fish kept in the fishkeeping hobby, where it is known under a variety of common names including Princess cichlid, Princess of Burundi, Lyretail cichlid, Fairy cichlid and Brichard's lamprologus. In addition, the species is also the subject of numerous studies on fish behaviour. It is closely related to N. pulcher from the southern half of Lake Tanganyika and some have recommended merging the two into a single species.

<i>Julidochromis</i> Genus of fishes

Julidochromis is a genus of cichlids in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae. They are commonly called julies and are endemic to Lake Tanganyika in eastern Africa. This genus includes six formally described species, some with a number local variants of uncertain taxonomic status. Further taxonomic work is required to determine how many species exist; the closely related Chalinochromis with two more species is sometimes included here and this may be correct. Hybridization makes attempts to determine relationships with molecular phylogenetic methods difficult.

<i>Tropheus moorii</i> Species of fish

Tropheus moorii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika in Africa. Over 40 different color morphs of this species are dispersed throughout the lake, ranging from dark green to flame red and yellow. They mostly feed on filamentous algae on the rocky shallows they inhabit. T. moorii is a maternal mouthbrooder, so eggs are fertilized and young are carried in the mouth of the female while they hatch and develop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pair bond</span> Biological term

In biology, a pair bond is the strong affinity that develops in some species between a mating pair, often leading to the production and rearing of young and potentially a lifelong bond. Pair-bonding is a term coined in the 1940s that is frequently used in sociobiology and evolutionary biology circles. The term often implies either a lifelong socially monogamous relationship or a stage of mating interaction in socially monogamous species. It is sometimes used in reference to human relationships.

<i>Neolamprologus</i> Genus of fishes

Neolamprologus is a genus of cichlids endemic to eastern Africa with all but one species, Neolamprologus devosi from the Malagarasi River, occurring in Lake Tanganyika. It is the largest genus of cichlids in Lake Tanganyika and also the largest genus in the tribe Lamprologini, which includes Altolamprologus, Chalinochromis, Julidochromis, Lamprologus, Lepidiolamprologus, Telmatochromis and Variabilichromis. The latter is a monotypic genus doubtfully distinct from Neolamprologus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reproductive synchrony</span>

Reproductive synchrony is a term used in evolutionary biology and behavioral ecology. Reproductive synchrony—sometimes termed "ovulatory synchrony"—may manifest itself as "breeding seasonality". Where females undergo regular menstruation, "menstrual synchrony" is another possible term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow cichlid</span> Species of fish

Herotilapia multispinosa also known as the rainbow cichlid is a Central American freshwater fish of the cichlid family. It is found on the Atlantic slope of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica from Patuca River (Honduras) south to Matina River, and on the Pacific slope of Nicaragua and Costa Rica from Guasaule River south to Tempisque River. Specimens are also reported from the Choluteca River on the Pacific side of Honduras. This species is found in lakes and swamps with muddy bottoms, where it uses its specialized teeth and only 3.5% jaw protrusion to feed mostly on algae. It is commercially important as an aquarium fish. The rainbow cichlid prefers a pH range of 7.0–8.0, water hardness of 9-20 dGH and a temperature range of 21–36 °C.

<i>Synodontis multipunctatus</i> Species of fish

Synodontis multipunctatus, also known as the cuckoo catfish, cuckoo squeaker, or multipunk, is a small catfish from Lake Tanganyika, one of the lakes in the Great Rift Valley system in Africa. It is a brood parasite upon mouthbrooding cichlids. This species grows to a length of 27.5 centimetres (10.8 in) TL. This species is a minor component of local commercial fisheries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paedophagy</span> Feeding behaviour

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<i>Gnathochromis pfefferi</i> Species of fish

Gnathochromis pfefferi is an African species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and its slow-flowing tributaries in the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. It is common and widespread. This cichlid is found in relatively shallow waters, typically over soft bottoms in places with aquatic grasses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convict julie</span> Species of fish

The convict julie is a cichlid species in the subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae family endemic to Lake Tanganyika. Hence it is found in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. The fish is named after Charles Tate Regan.

<i>Neolamprologus fasciatus</i> Species of fish

Neolamprologus fasciatus is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species spawns in empty snail shells. This species can reach a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade. They are piscivores and their prey includes the cichlid fish Variabilichromis moorii.

<i>Neolamprologus mondabu</i> Species of fish

Neolamprologus mondabu is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika except for the southern portion where it is replaced by N. modestus. It prefers areas with rocky substrates, moving to areas with sandy substrates to breed. It feeds on the eggs of Lamprichthys tanganicanus. This species can reach a length of 10.7 centimetres (4.2 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Neolamprologus mustax is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika. This species reaches a length of 9 centimetres (3.5 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade. Individuals are yellow in color and thus resemble juveniles of another cichlid species, Variabilichromis moorii, which may provide N. mustax with greater access to V. moorii feeding territories.

<i>Neolamprologus pulcher</i> Species of fish

Neolamprologus pulcher is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika where it prefers locations with plenty of sedimentation. The common names for N. pulcher include daffodil cichlid, fairy cichlid, princess of Zambia and lyretail cichlid. This species can reach a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamprologini</span> Tribe of fishes

Lamprologini is a tribe of African cichlid fishes. It contains seven genera and nearly 100 species. Over half of the species in this tribe are in the large genus Neolamprologus. Most genera in the tribe are endemic to Lake Tanganyika, but one species of Neolamprologus is from the Malagarasi River in Tanzania, and several species of Lamprologus are from the Congo River Basin.

References

  1. ↑ Bigirimana, C. (2006). "Neolamprologus moorii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2006: e.T60613A12384127. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2006.RLTS.T60613A12384127.en .
  2. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (25 September 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (p-y)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  3. 1 2 Borstein, Sam. "Variabilichromis Moori (Boulenger, 1898)." Sam Borstein's Cichlids. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.borstein.info/profiles/tanganyika/variabilichromis.html>.
  4. ↑ Konings, Ad (1996). Back to Nature: Guide to Tanganyika Cichlids. Jonsered, Sweden: Back to Nature. pp. 77, 78. ISBN   978-3-928457-37-8.
  5. 1 2 3 Sturmbauer, Christian; Corinna Fuchs; Georg Harb; Elisabeth Damm; Nina Duftner; Michaela Maderbacher; Martin Koch; Stephan Koblmüller (2008). "Abundance, distribution, and territory areas of rock-dwelling Lake Tanganyika cichlid fish species". Patterns and Processes of Speciation in Ancient Lakes. Vol. 615. pp. 57–68. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9582-5_5. ISBN   978-1-4020-9581-8.{{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  6. 1 2 3 Borstein, Rick. "Variabilochromis Moorii." Variabilochromis Moorii. Greater Chicago Cichlid Association, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.gcca.net/2011-06-25-05-28-12/118-variabilochromis-moorii>.
  7. ↑ "Variabilichromis Moorii." Seriously Fish. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. <http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/variabilichromis-moorii/>.
  8. ↑ Takeuchi, Y.; Ochi, H.; Kohda, M.; Sinyinza, D.; Hori, M. (2010). "A 20-year census of a rocky littoral fish community in Lake Tanganyika". Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 19 (2): 239–248. Bibcode:2010EcoFF..19..239T. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2010.00408.x.
  9. ↑ Ota, Kazutaka, Michio Hori, and Masanori Kohda. "Testes Investment along a Vertical Depth Gradient in an Herbivorous Fish." Ethology 118.7 (2012): 683-93. 3 June 2012. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
  10. ↑ Sturmbauer, Christian; Erik Verheyen; Axel Meyer (1994). "Mitochondrial Phylogeny of the Lamprologini, the Major Substrate Spawning Lineage of Cichild Fishes from Lake Tanganyika in Eastern Africa". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 11 (4): 691–703. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a040148 . PMID   8078408.
  11. 1 2 Rossiter, A (April 1991). "Lunar spawning synchroneity in a freshwater fish". Naturwissenschaften. 78 (4): 182–184. Bibcode:1991NW.....78..182R. doi:10.1007/BF01136210. S2CID   42057804.
  12. 1 2 Sefc, Kristina M.; Karin Mattersdorfer; Christian Sturmbauer; Stephan Koblmüller (2008). "High Frequency of Multiple Paternity in Broods of a Socially Monogamous Cichlid Fish with Biparental Nest Defence". Molecular Ecology. 17 (10): 2531–2543. Bibcode:2008MolEc..17.2531S. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2008.03763.x. PMID   18430146.
  13. ↑ Karino, Kenji (1998). "Depth-related Differences in Territory Size and Defense in the Herbivorous Cichlid,neolamprologus Moorii, in Lake Tanganyika". Ichthyological Research. 45 (1): 89–94. Bibcode:1998IchtR..45...89K. doi:10.1007/BF02678579. S2CID   23217727.
  14. 1 2 Sturmbauer, Christian; Christoph Hahn; Stephan Koblmüller; Lisbeth Postl; Danny Sinyinza; Kristina M. Sefc (2008). "Variation of Territory Size and Defense Behavior in Breeding Pairs of the Endemic Lake Tanganyika Cichlid Fish Variabilichromis Moorii". Hydrobiologia. 615 (1): 49–56. doi:10.1007/978-1-4020-9582-5_4.
  15. ↑ Karino, Kenji (1997). "Influence of Brood Size and Offspring Size on Parental Investment in a Biparental Cichlid Fish, Neolamprologus Moorii". Journal of Ethology. 15 (1): 39–43. doi:10.1007/BF02767324. S2CID   24473888.
  16. 1 2 Ochi, Haruki; Satoshi Awata (2009). "Resembling the Juvenile Colour of Host Cichlid Facilitates Access of the Guest Cichlid to Host Territory". Behaviour. 146 (6): 741–56. doi:10.1163/156853909X446181.
  17. ↑ Ochi, Haruki; Satoshi Awata; Masanori Kohda (2012). "Differential Attack by a Cichlid Fish on Resident and Non-resident Fish of Another Cichlid Species". Behaviour. 149 (1): 99–109. doi:10.1163/156853912X629139.
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