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Kleptoparasitism of freshwater crabs by cichlid fishes endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, Cameroon, West Africa

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Although kleptoparasitism, or food-stealing, is common in birds and some carnivorous mammals, reported instances are exceedingly rare in fishes. We studied the behaviour and ecology of the 11 endemic tilapiine cichlids of Lake Barombi Mbo, Cameroon, West Africa. Here we report that six of the Barombi cichlids (Stomatepia mariae, S. pindu, Konia eisentrauti, Pungu maclareni, Sarotherodon lohbergeri, andS. linnellii) kleptoparasitize freshwater crabsPotamon africanus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, MS 39762, Mississippi State, U.S.A.

    Wallace J. Dominey

  2. Department of Ichthyology, California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 94118, U.S.A.

    Alexandra M. Snyder

Authors
  1. Wallace J. Dominey
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  2. Alexandra M. Snyder
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Dominey, W.J., Snyder, A.M. Kleptoparasitism of freshwater crabs by cichlid fishes endemic to Lake Barombi Mbo, Cameroon, West Africa. Environ Biol Fish 22, 155–160 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001545

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001545

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