Feeding, social behaviour and temperature preferences in Agama atra Daudin (Reptilia, Agamidae)

Agama atra is mainly insectivorous, ants being the main food of juveniles, and larger insects that of adults. The lizards are territorial and hierarchical and perform elaborate aggressive and courtship displays on prominent rocks. In the field, routine activities commence at an air temperature of about 19°C and reach a peak at the hottest time of the day. Lizards acclimated at 26,5°C in a vivarium showed a modal preference for temperatures from 32° to 34,9°C; those at 39,4°C for temperatures from 35° to 43,9°C. Pre-chilled and pre-warmed lizards increased and reduced body temperatures respectively by behavioural means. Submissive and protective behaviour affected temperature preferenda. A. atra is a heliothermic ectotherm capable of selecting optimal temperature zones and modifying body temperature by basking and adopting different postures and orientations in relation to the heat source

The occurrence and development of ‘Siamese twins’ and other abnormalities in Oreochromis mossambicus (Pisces, Cichlidae)

Specimens from a clutch of Oreochromis mossambicus (Pisces, Cichlidae) exhibited a number of abnormalities such as enlarged pericardia, thin tube-like hearts, large depressions in the yolksac, spinal deformities and twinning. Descriptions of the differences in early ontogeny of two pairs of ‘Siamese twins‘ over a period of at least eight days are given. The developmental pattern of the twins is similar to that of normal specimens but the developmental rate is slower in the twins. Possible explanations for these occurrences of polyembryony are given

A life-history approach to the early ontogeny of the Mozambique tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus (Pisces, Cichlidae)

The early ontogeny of Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) was followed from the time of egg activation until the juvenile period. Development is direct and consists of an embryonic period of approximately 15 days. The embryonic period can be divided into a cleavage, an embryonic and a free-embryonic phase. A detailed developmental description is given and the relationship between the early ontogeny and the early life-history pattern is examined. The terminology used for the last step of the free-embryonic phase and a possible truncated larval period is discussed

Predation and prey selectivity by Argyrosomus hololepidotus (Osteichthyes: Sciaenidae) in south-eastern Cape waters of South Africa

Argyrosomus hololepidotus (kob) is a top predator in the shallow marine environment of the south-eastern Cape. There is considerable change in prey taken over the size range of predators examined (256-1701 mm). Young A. hololepidotus are planktivorous taking swarming mysids, but as they grow they become piscivorous, feeding on both pelagic and demersal prey associated with soft sediments. The pelagic cephalopod Loligo reynaudi is also taken by large specimens. Prey selection varies with locality and time of year. A field experiment in which the prey were compared with fish caught in a small-mesh net revealed a preference for some slow-moving demersal species. The length distributions of dominant prey species are given and these clearly show that larger prey are preferred by larger predators

Growth of Clarias gariepinus in Lake Sibaya, South Africa

Pectoral spines from 750 Clarias gariepinus (Pisces:Clariidae) from Lake Sibaya were used for age and growth determinations. The spines have clear rings in the bone matrix. Rings formed on otoliths, vertebrae and opercula were less useful. A close correlation between ages determined from length frequency data and ages obtained by back-calculation of lengths for different ring classes exists. Spine rings are laid down annually, except in the first year. C. gariepinus in Lake Sibaya grow rapidly and remain in good condition to a length of about 500 mm (age 3+ years) but of the larger catfish, few exceed 650 mm (7+ years). Males grow slightly faster than females, and modal sizes are 580 - 590 mm TL, and 540 - 550 mm TL. Over one third of the adult population measures between 500 and 600 mm TL due to the sharp deceleration of growth rate after 500 mm TL. Modal length and growth rate of Sibaya catfish is equal to that of other C. gariepinus populations, but the number and condition of larger individuals is lower, probably because of inadequate food resources in deep water

Age and growth of Clarias gariepinus (Pisces : Qariidae) in the P .K. Ie Roux Dam, South Africa

No Abstract

Food and feeding mechanisms of Gilchristella aestuarius (Pisces: Clupeidae)

No Abstract

Growth, natural mortality, length-weight relationship, maximum length and length-at-first-maturity of the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae

Based on the re-interpretation of published data, the von Bertalanffy growth function parameters of the coelacanth, Latimeria chalumnae, are estimated as L∞=218 cm total length, s.e. 23; K=0.059 (year−1), s.e. 0.012; t0=−3.3 (year), s.e. 0.5, corresponding to a life span of 48 years. The length–weight relationship of the form W=a*TL∧b, with wet weight (W) in g and total length (TL) in cm, is estimated as a=0.0278, b=2.89, r2=0.893, n=87, range=42.5–183 cm TL. Using extreme value theory, the maximum length for female coelacanths is estimated as 199 cm TL (95% confidence interval=175–223 cm TL) and for males as 168 cm TL (95% confidence interval 155–180 cm TL). Based on data from seven females with embryos or mature eggs, the length-at-first-maturity for females is estimated to be about 150 cm TL, corresponding to an age of about 16 years. Based on the value of t0=−3.3 years and on the presence of three scale rings found in a newborn coelacanth, the period of embryogenesis lasts for about three years, the longest known in vertebrates. The natural mortality rate is estimated at M=0.12. Population food consumption is found to be 1.4 times the existing biomass per year, and gross food conversion efficiency indicates that only 10% of the consumed food is utilized for somatic growth