Synopsis
A population of the characid Astyanax fasciatus was found living at the outflow of a subterranean source of water. Field observations revealed differences in behavior when compared with river populations. Affinity of this fish for the subterranean cavity was evidenced by behavior and distribution of individuals. Fish almost always carried bait into the subterranean cavity prior to feeding and also went into the cavity at night. Three factors may influence the affinity for the subterranean source of water: 1) protection against aerial predation, 2) the advantage to fishes of hovering in shade, 3) sheltering for reproduction. These observations suggest that cave colonization may take place actively rather than accidentaly, that behavioral changes may preceed morphological ones during initial stages of cave entry, and that behavioral adaptations may occur quite rapidly.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References cited
Avise, J.C. & R.K. Selander. 1972. Evolutionary genetics of cave-dwelling fishes of the genus Astyanax. Evolution 26: 1–19.
Barr, T.C. 1968. Cave ecology and the evolution of troglobites. pp. 53–102. In: T. Dobzhansky, M. Hecht & W. Steere (ed.) Evolutionary Biology, vol 2, North Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.
Breder, C.M. 1943. Problems in the behavior and evolution of a species of blind cave fish. Trans. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 5: 168–176.
Breder, C.M. & P.M. Bird. 1975. Cave entry by schools and associated pigmentary changes of the marine clupeid, Jenskinsia. Bull. Mar. Sci. 25: 377–386.
Bussing, W. 1976. Geographical distribution of the San Juan ichthyofauna of Central America with remarks on its origins and ecology. pp. 157–175. In: T.B. Thorson (ed.) Investigations of the Ichthyofauna of Nicaraguan Lakes, School of Life Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Helfman, G.S. 1981. The advantage to fishes of hovering in shade. Copeia 1981: 392–400..
Hubbs, C.L. 1936. Fishes of the Yucatan Peninsula. pp. 157–287. In: A.S. Pearse, E.P. Creaser & F.G. Hall (ed.) The Cenotes of Yucatan, Carnegie Institution, Washington.
Hubbs, C.L. & W.T. Innes. 1936. The first known blind fish of the family Characidae: a new genus from Mexico. Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. Univ. Michigan 342: 1–7.
Kirkby, R.F., K.W. Thompson & C. Hubbs. 1977. Karyotypic similarities between the Mexican and blind tetras. Copeia 1977: 578–580.
Lopez, M.I. 1980. Migration de la sardina Astyanax fasciatus (Characidae) en el rio Tempisque, Guanacaste. Costa Rica. Rev. Biol. Trop. 26: 261–273.
Peters, N. & G. Peters. 1973. Genetic problems in the regressive evolution of cavernicolous fish. pp. 187–201. In: L.H. Schroeder (ed.) Genetics and Mutagenesis in Fish, Springer-Verlag, New York.
Pfeiffer, W. 1966. Über die Vererbung der Schreckreaktion bei Astyanax (Characidae, Pisces). Z. Vererbungel. 98: 97–105.
Poulson, T.L. & W.B. White. 1969. The cave environment. Science 165: 971–981.
Sadoglu, P. 1957. Mendelian inheritance in the hybrids between the Mexican blind cave fishes and their overground ancestor. Verh. dtsch. zool. Ges. Graz. 1957: 432–439.
Schemmel, C. 1980. Studies on the genetics of feeding behaviour in the cave fish Astyanax mexicanus f. Anoptichthys. An example of apparent monofactorial inheritance by polygenes. Z. Tierpsychol. 53: 9–22.
Wilkens, H. 1971. Genetic interpretation of regressive evolutionary process: studies on hybrid eyes of two Astyanax cave populations (Characidae, Pisces). Evolution 25: 530–544.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Romero, A. Behavior in an ‘intermediate’ population of the subterranean-dwelling characid Astyanax fasciatus . Environ Biol Fish 10, 203–207 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001127
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001127