Field Observations of Parental Behavior of the Texas Cichlid Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum

Abstract

Observations were made in the San Antonio and San Marcos rivers of central Texas on mated pairs of Texas Cichlids (Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum) both before and following fertilization. Monogamy was the only mating system observed with pair formation occurring prior to territory establishment. Following fertilization the paren- tal behaviors of both members of the mated pair were observed through all three stages of offspring development (eggs, wrigglers and fry). During the egg stage the male and female alternated in the performance of major parental responsibilities. Although male and female parental behaviors were qualitatively similar, quantitative sex differences were evident. The male spent more time patrolling the territory and the female spent more time in close proximity to and attending to the offspring. These quantitative dif- ferences, as well as the alternation of behaviors, diminished in the wriggler stage and largely disappeared by the fry stage. Somewhat paradoxically, at all stages of offspring development the female chased conspecific intruders more often and with faster chases.