Fin flickering and associated sounds in the cichlid fish Ophthalmotilapia ventralis: a preliminary study.

Abstract

Fin flickering was defined as rapid movements of the fins. The behavioral function of such movements is however not well established. Depending on the species investigated, they were considered as comfort movements (e.g. removal of minor irritations) or alarm for young. In the cichlid Etroplus maculatus they allow homogenous repartition of eggs on the substrate. We studied visual and acoustical behavior of five Ophthalmotilapia ventralis (two males and three females) reared in a 240 l tank. Pectoral fin flickering associated with sound production was often observed, especially from fish that established a territory. With the exception of the butterflish Chaetodon mutlicinctus and gouramis, this aspect of fin flickering is generally overlooked in teleosts. First observations support the fact that sounds (peak frequency and pulse duration: 562±95 Hz and 14±5 ms, respectively) are not emitted during all kinds of fin movements but mainly during some caudo-rostral horizontal fin sweeps. In-depth studies are however required to better characterize the movements and understand what morphological traits are responsible for the sound production. Further investigations are also needed to determine if fin flickering has a role in O. ventralis social interaction