Colour pattern and inhibition of aggression in the cichlid fish Astronotus ocellatus

Beeching, Simon C.

doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1995.tb01872.x

Cited by 43 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…In fact, disturbances in the environment were usually followed by changing to the "stripe-spot" pattern. The presence of vertical bars composing the color pattern has been described for other cichlids and associated with escape and submission behaviors (Baerends & Baerends-van Roon, 1950;Baldaccini, 1973;Falter, 1987;Beeching, 1995;O'Connor et al, 1999). The combination of spots, stripes and bars, associated with the reduction of the coloration intensity, seems to constitute a disruptive pattern, allowing the fish to stay unnoticed for potential predators (Endler, 1978).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Color changing and behavioral context in the Amazonian Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma hippolytae (Perciformes)

et al. 2009

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Animal coloration has many functions, and fishes are noted among vertebrates for presenting a wide variety of color patterns. Although in marine fishes the relationship between body coloration and behavioral context is well documented, there's not much information about freshwater fishes. Here we describe color patterns displayed by the dwarf cichlid Apistogramma hippolytae and suggest that these patterns are dependent on different social and behavioral settings. Field observations were conducted underwater in a pond in Central Amazonia, Brazil. We recorded six body coloration patterns related to seven different kinds of behavioral activities: foraging, resting, reproductive and agonistic displays, aggression (attacking and fleeing) and parental care. Changes in coloration occur rapidly and take only a few seconds. Females on parental care exhibited a unique pattern that are more persistent and probably manifests more slowly. In the shallow and clear waters of the natural environment of this dwarf cichlid, color communication seems to constitute an efficient way to display information about individual mood, social status and reproductive readiness, contributing to minimize loss of energy in unnecessary interactions.Coloração animal tem diferentes funções, e os peixes se destacam entre os vertebrados por apresentarem uma grande diversidade de padrões de cores. Embora se conheça relativamente bem a relação entre coloração e contexto comportamental para peixes marinhos, pouco se sabe para os peixes de água doce. Nós descrevemos os padrões de coloração de um ciclídeo amazônico, Apistogramma hippolytae, e sugerimos como esses padrões são dependentes das características sociais e comportamentais. Realizamos observações subaquáticas utilizando mergulho livre em campo durante o dia em uma lagoa na Amazônia Central. Nós caracterizamos seis padrões de coloração associados a sete comportamentos diferentes: alimentação, repouso, displays sexual e agonístico, agressão (ataque e fuga) e cuidado parental. As mudanças de coloração levam apenas alguns segundos. Fêmeas em cuidado parental exibem um padrão exclusivo, cuja mudança é mais lenta. No ambiente natural desse ciclídeo, locais rasos com águas claras, a comunicação por coloração pode ser um sistema eficiente de comunicar o estado motivacional individual, status social e disposição para reprodução, possivelmente contribuindo para minimizar a perda de energia com interações desnecessárias.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Color changing and behavioral context in the Amazonian Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma hippolytae (Perciformes)

et al. 2009

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“…Thus it seems likely that larger fish reduce their level of activity to aid metabolic suppression (Boutilier and St-Pierre, 2000) whereas smaller fish increase their activity, potentially in the hope of finding areas less devoid of oxygen (Domenici et al, 2000). Oscars live in small schools forming monogamous pairs for reproduction, where both sexes will establish and defend breeding sites (Santos et al, 1984;Beeching, 1995). Aggressive interactions between mature adults have been documented (Beeching, 1997), with combat defeat eliciting a colour pattern change from the normal olive-green-brown body colouration to a near black colour interrupted with irregular white barring (Beeching, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Oscars live in small schools forming monogamous pairs for reproduction, where both sexes will establish and defend breeding sites (Santos et al, 1984;Beeching, 1995). Aggressive interactions between mature adults have been documented (Beeching, 1997), with combat defeat eliciting a colour pattern change from the normal olive-green-brown body colouration to a near black colour interrupted with irregular white barring (Beeching, 1995). Aggressive interactions were noted among the groups of large fish whereas no instances of aggression were noted among the groups of small fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tribute to R. G. Boutilier: The effect of size on the physiological and behavioural responses of oscar,Astronotus ocellatus, to hypoxia

Sloman

Wood

Scott

et al. 2006

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARY The physiological and behavioural responses of two size groups of oscar(Astronotus ocellatus) to hypoxia were studied. The physiological responses were tested by measuring ṀO2 during decreasing environmental oxygen tensions. Larger oscars were better able to maintain oxygen consumption during a decrease in PO2, regulating routine ṀO2 to a significantly lower PO2 threshold (50 mmHg)than smaller oscars (70 mmHg). Previous studies have also demonstrated a longer survival time of large oscars exposed to extreme hypoxia, coupled with a greater anaerobic enzymatic capability. Large oscars began aquatic surface respiration (ASR) at the oxygen tension at which the first significant decrease in ṀO2was seen (50 mmHg). Interestingly, smaller oscars postponed ASR to around 22 mmHg, well beyond the PO2 at which they switched from oxyregulation to oxyconformation. Additionally, when given the choice between an hypoxic environment containing aquatic macrophyte shelter and an open normoxic environment, small fish showed a greater preference for the hypoxic environment. Thus shelter from predators appears particularly important for juveniles, who may accept a greater physiological compromise in exchange for safety. In response to hypoxia without available shelter, larger fish reduced their level of activity (with the exception of aggressive encounters) to aid metabolic suppression whereas smaller oscars increased their activity, with the potential benefit of finding oxygen-rich areas.

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“…These fish are regarded as being among the most intelligent tropical fish species, as they identify their caretakers and sense their surroundings (Von 2010). The species is able to rapidly alter its colouration, a trait which facilitates ritualized territorial and combat behaviours amongst conspecifics (Beeching 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation and characterization of virulent Aeromonas veronii from ascitic fluid of oscar Astronotus ocellatus showing signs of infectious dropsy

Sreedharan¹,

Philip²,

Singh³

2011

Dis. Aquat. Org.

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The cichlid oscar Astronotus ocellatus has worldwide commercial value in the pet fish industry because of its early maturation, relatively high fecundity, ability to identify its caretaker and also to alter colouration amongst conspecifics. Pathogenic strains of Aeromonas veronii resistant to multiple antibiotics were isolated from A. ocellatus individuals showing signs of infectious abdominal dropsy. The moribund fish showed haemorrhage in all internal organs, and pure cultures could be obtained from the abdominal fluid. The isolates recovered were biochemically identified as A. veronii biovar sobria and genetically confirmed as A. veronii based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (GenBank accession no. FJ573179). The RAPD profile using 3 primers (OPA-3, OPA-4 and OPD-20) generated similar banding patterns for all isolates. They displayed cytotoxic and haemolytic activity and produced several exoenzymes which were responsible for the pathogenic potential of the isolates. In the representative isolate MCCB 137, virulence genes such as enterotoxin act, haemolytic toxin aerA, type 3 secretion genes such as aexT, ascV and ascF-ascG, and gcat (glycerophospholipidcholesterol acyltransferase) could be amplified. MCCB 137 exhibited a 50% lethal dose (LD 50 ) of 10 5.071 colony-forming units ml -1 in goldfish and could be subsequently recovered from lesions as well as from the internal organs. This is the first description of a virulent A. veronii from oscar. KEY WORDS: Aeromonas veronii · Oscar · Astronotus ocellatus · Virulence · Ornamental fishesResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

show abstract

Colour pattern and inhibition of aggression in the cichlid fish Astronotus ocellatus

Cited by 43 publications

References 20 publications

Color changing and behavioral context in the Amazonian Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma hippolytae (Perciformes)

Color changing and behavioral context in the Amazonian Dwarf Cichlid Apistogramma hippolytae (Perciformes)

Tribute to R. G. Boutilier: The effect of size on the physiological and behavioural responses of oscar,Astronotus ocellatus, to hypoxia

Isolation and characterization of virulent Aeromonas veronii from ascitic fluid of oscar Astronotus ocellatus showing signs of infectious dropsy

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