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Female mate choice in the cichlid fish Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum

1983; Elsevier BV; Volume: 31; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0003-3472(83)80005-0

1095-8282

Katherine C. Noonan,

Amphibian and Reptile Biology

Male body size (standard length) and prior reproductive experience were tested for their influence on the mate choice of naive female convict cichlid fish, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum. Females showed no preference based on male reproductive experience, but significantly preferred the larger of two males. The possibility that the size dimorphism is a sexually-selected trait in male C. nigrofasciatum is discussed. Individual broods of C. nigrofasciatum were reared and sexually mature animals measured to determine the relationship between sex, age and size. Males of the same age showed sufficient size variation to serve as a basis for female choice. Thus the size variation necessary for selection to operate exists in male C. nigrofasciatum. These data suggest that male body size may be a sexually-selected trait in this monogamous cichlid species.