Chemical Recognition of Young by the Midas Cichlid, Cichlasoma citrinellum

" Cichlasoma citrinellum recognizes the odor of its young when paired against the odor of young of conspecifics or young of other cichlid species. This ability is lost when the nares are plugged with cotton. During the larval stage the female remains with the young while the male patrols the "territory." Site attachment by the female, but not by the male, interferes with orientation to water coming from the larvae. Site attachment ceases to interfere with this chemical orientation when the young become free-swimming. Orientation to the odor of young is believed to be important 1) in the location, formation and maintenance of the school of fry, and 2) in the detection and removal of foreign fry "