Journal Article
Territoriality and agonistic behavior of subterranean Copionodontinae catfish (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Brazil
Rantin, B. and Bichuette, M.E.
Record Number:
4149
Year:
2019
Journal:
Acta Ethologica
Pages:
17-28
Volume:
22
Abstract:
Aggressive behavior may increase or decrease in troglobitic fishes, compared to epigean ones. Herein, we present the agonistic behavior repertoire and the causes that determine the dominance of two Brazilian cave catfishes: Glaphyropoma spinosum and putative undescribed Copionodon species. Both belong to Copionodontinae group, a small basal Trichomycteridae subfamily, and coexist in sandstone caves from Chapada Diamantina, northeastern Brazil. The results were compared with those exhibited
by an epigean and syntopic species, Copionodon pecten. The fishes were paired and filmed until dominance was established; frequency of attacks was quantified and statistically analyzed. Cave copionodontine is one of the most hostile among subterranean
fishes, with high frequency and complexity of aggressive components, including five new behavior components. Determinant factors for establishing dominance are body size, physical strength, and territoriality. Dominance is probably maintained by avoidance behavior by the subordinate and continuous attacks by the dominant. They are highly intolerant to conspecific, which may be a consequence of territoriality or feeding context. Two hypotheses may explain the agonistic behavior of cave species: (1) It is the maintenance of their ancestral behavior, being plesiomorphic in relation to the remaining
Trichomycteridae subfamilies, corroborated by phototactic and spontaneous behavior; (2) It is an autapomorphy for Copionodontinae, due to new evolutionary acquisitions. The epigean C. pecten, in contrast, is much less aggressive, and the high tolerance to conspecific and the absence of accentuated territoriality may be explained by the food and/or space abundance in its natural habitats.
Keywords Agonistic behavior . Cave catfish . Copionodontinae . Glaphyropoma . Copionodon . ChapadaDiamantina
Times Cited:
2
Relevent Species:
Related Records:
de Pinna, M.C.C. (1992)
A new subfamily of Trichomycteridae (Teleostei, Siluriformes), lower locarioid relationships and a discussion on the impact of additional taxa for phylogenetic analysis
de Pinna, M.C.C. (1992)A new subfamily of Trichomycteridae (Teleostei, Siluriformes), lower locarioid relationships and a discussion on the impact of additional taxa for phylogenetic analysis
Campanario, C.M. and de Pinna, M.C.C. (2000)A new species of the primitive trichomycterid subfamily Copionodontinae from northeastern Brazil (Teleostei: Trichomycteridae)
Bichuette, M.E. (2004)Population ecology of troglobitic catfishes, genus Ituglanis, from central Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
Trajano, E., Duarte, L. and Menna-Barreto, L. (2005)Locomotor activity rhythms in cave fishes from Chapada Diamantina, northeastern Brazil (Teleostei: Siluriformes)
Bichuette, M.E., de Pinna, M.C.C. and Trajano, E. (2008)A new species of Glaphyropoma: the first subterranean copionodontine catfish and the first occurrence of opercular odontodes in the subfamily (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
Bichuette, M.E., de Pinna, M.C.C. and Trajano, E. (2008)A new species of Glaphyropoma: the first subterranean copionodontine catfish and the first occurrence of opercular odontodes in the subfamily (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
Bockmann, F.A. and Castro, R.M.C. (2010)The blind catfishes from the caves of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae): description, anatomy, phylogenetic relationships, natural history and biogeography
Rantin, B. and Bichuette, M.E. (2013)Phototactic behaviour of suberranean Copionodoninae Pinna 1992 catfishes (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Chapada Diamantina, central Bahia, northeastern Brazil
Rantin, B. and Bichuette, M.E. (2013)Phototactic behaviour of suberranean Copionodoninae Pinna 1992 catfishes (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Chapada Diamantina, central Bahia, northeastern Brazil
Zanata, A. M. and Primitivo, C. (2014)Natural history of Copionodon pecten, an endemic trichomycterid catfish from Chapada Diamantina in northeastern Brazil
Zanata, A. M. and Primitivo, C. (2014)Natural history of Copionodon pecten, an endemic trichomycterid catfish from Chapada Diamantina in northeastern Brazil
Gallão, J.E. and Bichuette, M.E. (2015)Taxonomic distinctness and conservation of a new high biodiversity subterranean area in Brazil
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de Pinna, M., Burger, R. and Zanata, A.M. (2018)A new species of Copionodon lacking a free orbital rim (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)
Rantin, B. and Bichuette, M.E. (2019)Territoriality and agonistic behavior of subterranean Copionodontinae catfish (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Brazil
Rantin, B. and Bichuette, M.E. (2019)Territoriality and agonistic behavior of subterranean Copionodontinae catfish (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Brazil
Fernandez, L., Arroyave, J. and Schaefer, S.A. (2021)Emerging patterns in phylogenetic studies of trichomycterid catfishes (Teleostei, Siluriformes) and the contribution of Andean diversity
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