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The reproductive behaviour ofAequidens vittatus (Pisces, Cichlidae) in Surinam, South America

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The behaviour of free-living pairs ofAequidens vittatus was observed in Surinam, South America. An ethogram of breeding behaviour is presented, based on those observations and on aquarium-held fish. This is a biparental, substrate-guarding species that spawns on a movable platform. Sexual differentiation of parental roles was more pronounced when the young were in the embryonic interval than when they were mobile juveniles. Females spent more time near their brood, attacked juvenile conspecifics more often, and fanned and mouthed embryos more than males did. Males were more involved than females in territorial spacing of pairs. The movable spawning leaf provides support for eggs on detritus substrate and may also provide protection against predators and rapid water level changes.

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Author notes

  1. Brian F. Bietz

    Present address: MacLaren Marex, Inc., Station ‘B’, St. John's., P.O. Box 9493, Newfoundland, AIA 2Y4, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Western Ontario, N6A 5B7, London, Ontario, Canada

    Miles H. A. Keenleyside & Brian F. Bietz

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  1. Miles H. A. Keenleyside
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  2. Brian F. Bietz
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Keenleyside, M.H.A., Bietz, B.F. The reproductive behaviour ofAequidens vittatus (Pisces, Cichlidae) in Surinam, South America. Environ Biol Fish 6, 87–94 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001802

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001802

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