The surprising "B-side": description of a new foraging tactic for the pearl cichlid, Geophagus brasiliensis, in a coastal stream of the Atlantic Forest

Gabriel Raposo Silva De Souza,Domingos Garrone-Neto,José Sabino

doi:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2018-0702

Gabriel Raposo Silva De Souza, Domingos Garrone-Neto + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2018-0702

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Abstract

Abstract: A new foraging tactic for the pearl cichlid, Geophagus brasiliensis, is described from underwater observations performed in a coastal stream of the Atlantic Forest, Southeastern Brazil. Named "shift picking", the foraging tactic involved the manoeuvering of leaves, wood twigs and tree bark present in the substrate, with fish using its mouth to turn objects and uncover macroinvertebrates adhered to the underside of the object being picked ("B-side"). The object-shifting behaviour is rarely reported for fish and the present description seems to be the first record for a freshwater species of South America.

Highlights

The pearl cichlid, Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Perciformes, Cichlidae), is widely distributed along the coastal drainages of eastern and southern Brazil and Uruguay (Kullander 2003)
The diversified foraging behaviour known for G. brasiliensis is usually based and inferred from the analysis of stomach contents, limiting the understanding of how occurs the ingestion of prey hidden under structures or adhered to objects such as leaves, wood twigs, and tree barks
In this study we report a new foraging tactic for G. brasiliensis, presumably focusing on macroinvertebrates hidden under objects

Summary

Introduction

The pearl cichlid, Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) (Perciformes, Cichlidae), is widely distributed along the coastal drainages of eastern and southern Brazil and Uruguay (Kullander 2003). This species inhabits the lentic habitats and shallow waters of rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and even brackish environments (Nunes et al 2014). 1990, Arcifa & Meschiatti 1993, Dias et al 2004, Moraes et al 2004, Gomiero & Braga 2008, Bastos et al 2011), differences in prey availability across study sites and conceptual approaches may lead G. brasiliensis to a variety of trophic preferences that include detritivory (e.g., Meschiatti 1995), insectivory (e.g., Ribeiro et al 2014) or even benthivory (e.g., Nunes et al 2014).

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