Abstract
The pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans) is a ferocious carnivorous catfish with evident cannibalistic behaviour; its nocturnal habits are related to its ability to use predominately chemical sensorial modalities. This study investigated whether the pintado distinguishes conspecifics of different body sizes using chemical cues, which may reflect different physiological conditions such as hunger or stress. Pintados were observed when receiving water conditioned by either larger or similar-size conspecifics. A control group consisted of pintados receiving unconditioned water. Twelve repetitions were used for each condition. Feeding-like behaviours were investigated in the receiver fish and showed that they responded only to the conditioned water. Furthermore, a higher frequency of responses occurred when the water was conditioned by a similar-size conspecific. Thus, it is concluded that pintados are able to recognize conspecific size by chemical cues related to size and that this ability contributes to the individual's decision making on whether to approach or to avoid the conspecific.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Mr. Antonio Carlos de Barros Tardivo for very helpful technical assistance and Mr. Ruy A. Bastos Freire Filho for skilful help during data acquisition. The research described was approved by the Committee on Animal Use and Supply at the University of São Paulo. The study was funded by a grant to P.C. Giaquinto from FAPESP (process no. 98/03036-4).
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Giaquinto, P.C., Volpato, G.L. Chemical cues related to conspecific size in pintado catfish, Pseudoplatystoma coruscans . acta ethol 8, 65–69 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-005-0001-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-005-0001-3