Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Why is the neon tetra so bright? Coloration for mirror-image projection to confuse predators? “Mirror-image decoy” hypothesis

Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Cite this article

Abstract

The neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi), which inhabits blackwater streams of the Amazon basin, has extremely bright coloration characterized by metallic blue-green stripes. To clarify the ecological function of this coloration, we examined the appearance of living neon tetra. They changed color in response to lighting and background conditions, and became less conspicuous under each condition to the human eye. Although they appeared bright in colorless clear water, their stripes appeared darker in blackwater. In addition, the visible area of their stripes was small and their brightness decreased, unless they were observed within a limited viewing angle (approximately 30° above the horizon). The results show that from the viewpoint of approaching submerged predators, a bright mirror image of the stripes is projected onto the underside of the water’s surface, providing a dramatic visual target while the real fish remains less conspicuous. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the neon tetra’s bright coloration is an effective predator evasion strategy that confuses predators using bright mirror images.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Abbreviations

θ:

the angle between the horizontal and the line of measurement/sight

References

  • Brooks JL (1968) The effects of prey-size selection by lake planktivores. Syst Zool 17:272–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clothier J, Lythgoe JN (1987) Light-induced colour changes by the iridophores of the neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi. J Cell Sci 88:663–668

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Endler JA (1990) On the measurement and classification of colour in studies of animal colour patterns. Biol J Linn Soc 41:315–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernald RD, Liebman PA (1980) Visual receptor pigments in the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni. Vision Res 20:857–864

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geisler R (1979) Exploding the habitat of the neon tetra. Aquar Dig Int 24:24–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Géry J (1966) A review of certain Tetragonopterinae (Characoidei), with the description of two new genera. Ichtyol Aquar J 37:211–236

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayashi H, Sugimoto M, Oshima N, Fujii R (1993) Circadian motile activity of erythrophores in the red abdominal skin of tetra fishes and its possible significance in chromatic adaptation. Pigment Cell Res 6:29–36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hooper PL, Miller GF (2008) Mutual mate choice can drive costly signaling even under perfect monogamy. Adapt Behav 16:53–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen J (1981) Searching for zooplankton just outside Snell’s window. Limnol Oceanogr 26:1168–1171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasai A, Oshima N (2006) Light-sensitive motile iridophores and visual pigments in the neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi. Zool Sci 23:815–819

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi S (1990) Tsuchi no 100 fushigi (100 Questions about soil). Tokyo Shoseki, Tokyo, Japan, pp 122–123 in Japanese

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine JS, MacNichol EF Jr (1979) Visual pigments in teleost fishes: effects of habitat, microhabitat and behavior on visual system evolution. Sens Process 3:95–130

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li-Cor (1982) Radiation measurements and instrumentation. Publication 8202-LM, Lincoln, Nebraska

  • Lythgoe JN, Shand J (1982) Changes in spectral reflections from the iridophores of the neon tetra. J Physiol 325:23–34

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lythgoe JN, Shand J (1983) Diel colour changes in the neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi. Environ Biol Fishes 8:249–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muntz WRA (1982) Visual adaptations to different light environments in Amazonian fishes. Rev Can Biol Exp 41:35–46

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myers GS (1936) A new characid fish of the genus Hyphessobrycon from the Peruvian Amazon. Proc Biol Soc Wash 49:97–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaishi H, Oshima N (1989) Neural control of motile activity of light-sensitive iridophores in the neon tetra. Pigment Cell Res 2:485–492

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nagaishi H, Oshima N (1992) Ultrastructure of the motile iridophores of the neon tetra. Zool Sci 9:65–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagaishi H, Oshima N, Fujii R (1990) Light-reflecting properties of the iridophores of the neon tetra, Paracheirodon innesi. Comp Biochem Physiol 95A:337–341

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National research council (1996) Guide for care and use of laboratory animals. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Neudecker S (1989) Eye camouflage and false eyespots: chaetodontid responses to predators. Environ Biol Fishes 25:143–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oshima N, Nagaishi H (1992) Study of the motile mechanism in neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi) iridophores. Comp Biochem Physiol 102A:273–278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shultz H (1962) The kingdom of the neon tetra. N J Trop Fish Hobbyist 20:60–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Stevens M, Parraga CA, Cuthill IC, Partridge JC, Troscianko T (2007) Using digital photography to study animal coloration. Biol J Linnean Soc 90:211–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thimijan RW, Heins RD (1983) Photometric, radiometric, and quantum light units of measure: a review of procedures for interconversion. Hort Sci 18:818–822

    Google Scholar 

  • Weizman SH, Fink WL (1983) Relationships of the neon tetras, a group of South American freshwater fishes (Teleosti, Characidae), with comments on the phylogeny of New World characiforms. Bull Mus Comp Zool 150:339–395

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We express sincere thanks to Noriko Oshima of Toho University who kindly provided us with much valuable advice and a spectrometer. We show heartfelt appreciation for the kindness and information provided by Jorge Porto of INPA, Brazil. Yusuke Sekiguchi and Koji Miyamoto gave us plenty of advice and encouragement. We are obliged to Takahiro Segawa and Tetsuo Nakajima for their accompaniment in the Peruvian Amazon. We also thank all the members of our laboratories for their help with and support of our studies. This research was partly supported by COE Program (R12) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate school of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 WA-43, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8551, Japan

    Takehide Ikeda

  2. Wildlife Research Center, Kyoto University, JASSO bldg 3F, 2-24 Tanaka-Sekiden-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8203, Japan

    Shiro Kohshima

Authors
  1. Takehide Ikeda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shiro Kohshima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takehide Ikeda.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ikeda, T., Kohshima, S. Why is the neon tetra so bright? Coloration for mirror-image projection to confuse predators? “Mirror-image decoy” hypothesis. Environ Biol Fish 86, 427–441 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-009-9543-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-009-9543-y

Keywords

search

Navigation