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Hybridization and speciation among cichlids: the case of 'Wesafu', an ecotype cichlid

Abstract

Fishes of the family Cichlidae are known for spectacular adaptive radiation and therefore serve as a model for evolutionary and ecological studies. They are highly speciated due to hybridization that frequently occur in the wild. The existence of an ecotype cichlid, ’wesafu’ in Epe Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria appears to be the result of such hybridization. This paper reviews the profile of wesafu and compare the species with other cichlids, evaluate the probable causes of speciation which includes diversity in feeding morphology, mate choice, adaptation to changes in habitat arising from water level dynamics , eco-phenotypic variation, restricted migration to predation and introgressive hybridization. The implication of such speciation and hybridization were also highlighted

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