Ostracism of an Albino Individual by a Group of Pigmented Catfish

Abstract

Physiological and behavioural constraints hinder albino individuals. Albino animals are rare in the wild; this trait is associated with easy detection by predators, non-native or damaged environments, and exclusively aphotic environments in total darkness. The social aspect of albinism is reported only for human beings, and the effect is distinguishable in time and space when social benefits, are used to a limited the extent. Thus far, the social consequences of albinism for animals remain unknown. We used socially established groups of the pigmented catfish, (Silurus glanis), to observe space and temporal distance detachment of albino specimens in laboratory conditions. The albino fish were separated at larger distances from the group than pigmented individuals with the same social status determined by familiarity, and this asymmetry also varied in time. Albinism-related ostracism results in a solitary existence, usually followed by enhanced predation risk. The motivation for an individual’s exclusion from a group appears to be the avoidance of the predation risk that increases not only for an odd individual but also for conspecifics within a group. Our findings indicate a role for albinism in behavioural processes related to sociality in a group of conspecifics.

Irresponsible vendors: Non‐native, invasive and threatened animals offered for garden pond stocking

“…These species are offered by vendors in fancy bright red, gold, yellow, blue or albino colouration and/or in various body and fin shape morphs (Hanel et al, ; Komiyama et al, ; Rylková, Kalous, Šlechtová, & Bohlen, ). These morphs are usually rare in the wild because of their increased vulnerability to predation (Slavík, Horký, & Maciak, ). Consequently, establishment of traditional ornamental fish species in the wild is improbable.…”

Peer Review #1 of "How does agonistic behaviour differ in albino and pigmented fish? (v0.1)"

“…Hence, albinism may be associated with not only lower aggressiveness but also lower dominance, as these characteristics are often correlated (Dijkstra, Seehausen & Groothuis, 2005;Pryke & Griffith, 2006). Indeed, consistent with this idea, ostracism of albino catfish by a group of pigmented conspecifics has been described (Slavík, Horký & Maciak, 2015), and the low ability of albinos to remain within a group may be another reason for the high predation risk in albinos (Ellegren et al, 1997).…”

“…Manuscript to be reviewed Slavík, Horký & Maciak, (2015) described the separation of albino Silurus glanis (Linnaeus 1758) catfish from a group of pigmented conspecifics. Irregularity of albinos in a group of pigmented conspecifics means a guiding target for predators (Landeau & Terborgh, 1986;Theodorakis, 1989), facilitating their hunting (Ellegren et al, 1997), and may be a reason for exclusion of albinos from a group (Slavík, Horký & Maciak, 2015). However, it is not yet clear whether albinism in animals is associated with alternative social behaviour, resulting in for example, ostracism.…”

Leucismo parcial del yigüirro (Turdus grayi) en la Estación Biológica La Selva, Costa Rica

“…Por otro lado se ha planteado la hipótesis de que los individuos con anormalidades pigmentarias no son seleccionados en contra debido a circunstancias particulares: especies introducidas en sitios en los que no tienen depredadores naturales (Delibes et al 2013), o hábitats de alta calidad nutricional con buena cobertura vegetal (Peles et al 1995, Kehas et al 2005. No obstante, un problema potencial para individuos con anormalidades pigmentarias puede representar cambios en las interacciones intraespecíficas, tales como el ostracismo (McCardle 2012, Slavík et al 2015.…”