Abstract
Predator-prey relationships are critical components of population dynamics across all ecosystems. Interactions between predators and dangerous prey are especially likely to result in a co-evolutionary arms race. To avoid predation, porcupinefishes (Diodontidae) present a suite of physical and chemical defences, including spines, inflation, and the potent neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, which is concentrated in the internal organs. A failed predation attempt is described here on a longspined porcupinefish, Diodon holocanthus, by a benthopelagic predator, Carangoides fulvoguttatus, resulting in the death of both the predator and the prey.
Highlights
The type of predator-prey interaction that is most likely to result in a co-evolutionary arms race is in systems involving dangerous prey (Brodie and Brodie, 1999)
Porcupinefishes (Diodontidae) are circumtropical and inhabit a large variety of shallow water ecosystems (Nelson et al, 2016). They are slow swimmers that rely upon a suite of anti-predator adaptations: spines, pronounced inflation, and the potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin, which is concentrated in the internal organs (Brainerd, 1994; Wainwright et al, 1995; Bane et al, 2014)
This assemblage of defense mechanisms should effectively limit predation, a case is reported here where a benthopelagic fish attempted to prey upon an adult longspined porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus), and died in the process
Summary
Predator-prey relationships are shaped by interactions between intra and inter-specific behavioural types (e.g. aggressive vs docile; Chang et al, 2017). The type of predator-prey interaction that is most likely to result in a co-evolutionary arms race is in systems involving dangerous prey (Brodie and Brodie, 1999). This assemblage of defense mechanisms should effectively limit predation, a case is reported here where a benthopelagic fish attempted to prey upon an adult longspined porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus), and died in the process.
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