Summary
Two cichlid species morphological specialized for scraping algae were observed in Lake Malawi also to feed extensively upon zooplankton, phytoplankton, detritus, fish fry and fish eggs. These field observations confirm laboratory studies that cichlids are facultative in their feeding repertoire. Such an ability contributes to the success of the family Cichlidae. We hypothesize that the morphological specializations become critically important when food resources are low and effective cropping is required.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barel C (1980) Varkblad Foor Biologen 60:228
Carlquist S (1972) Island Biology. Columbia University Press, New York
Fox LR, Morrow PA (1981) Specialization: Species property or local phenomenon? Science 211:887–893
Fryer G (1959) The trophic interrelationships and ecology of some littoral communities of Lake Nyasa with especial reference to the fishes and a discussion of the evolution of rock-frequenting Cichlidae. Proc Zool Soc London 132:153–181
Fryer G, Iles TD (1972) The Cichlid Fishes of the Great Lakes of Africa. Oliver and Boyd, London
Greenwood PH (1974) The cichlid fishes of Lake Victoria, East Africa: The biology and evolution of a species flock. Bull Br Mus Nat Hist Zool Suppl 6:1–134
Hespenheide HA (1973) Ecological inferences from morphological data. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 4:213–227
Holzberg S (1978) A field and laboratory study of the behavior and ecology of Pseudotropheus zebra (Boulenger) an endemic cichlid of Lake Malawi (Pisces, Cichlidae). Z Zool Syst Evolutionsforsch 16:171–178
Jolly A (1966) Lemur behavior. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Liem KF (1978) Modulatory multiplicity in the functional repertoire of the feeding mechanism in cichlid fishes. J Morphol 158(3):323–360
Liem KR (1980) Adaptive significance of intra- and interspecific differences in the feeding repertoires of cichlid fishes. Am Zool 20:295–314
McKaye KR (1981) Death feigning: A unique hunting behavior by the predatory cichlid, Haplochromis livingstoni of Lake Malawi. Environ Biol Fishes 6:361–365
Marsh A, Ribbink A. ms. Coexistence of three species of Petrotilapia (Pisces: Cichlidae) from Lake Malawi
Poll M (1956). Poissons cichlidae. Result scient Explor hydrobiol lac Tanganika (1946–1947), 3, Fasc 5b 1–619
Regan CT (1921) The cichlid fishes of lage Nyasa. Proc Zool Soc London 94:675–727
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McKaye, K.R., Marsh, A. Food switching by two specialized algae-scraping cichlid fishes in Lake Malawi, Africa. Oecologia 56, 245–248 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379697
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00379697