Filial cannibalism in the barred-chin blenny Rhabdoblennius ellipes: males do not preferentially eat young eggs

Abstract

Female barred-chin blenny Rhabdoblennius ellipes prefer to mate with males tending young eggs, possibly to reduce the risk of male selective filial cannibalism against young eggs in the nests. To test this hypothesis, we conducted aquarium experiments with nests containing eggs at different developmental stages. All egg-tending males consumed both young and old eggs. However, the observed and expected number of consumed young eggs did not differ, indicating that R. ellipes males do not selectively cannibalize young eggs in nests with eggs of mixed developmental stages. Relatively small differences in egg age within a nest may explain this nonselectivity in this species.