Specialized egg feeding behavior by African and Central American cichlids

" Three African cichlid species, (Trematocranus labifer, Otopharynx ovatus, Protomelas insignis) and one Central American species (amarillos of the 'Cichlasoma• citrinellum species complex) have converged on a similar feeding strategy for foraging on other cichlid eggs. Individuals of all four species approach from 2-3 m above oviposition sites of other cichlids, and dart into the sites and consume eggs until they are repelled by a parent. The victimized African species are mouthbrooders which breed throughout the year. The Central American victims are seasonal substratum spawners. The combination of 1) territorial behavior of these ovivorous fishes around a defended temporary resource (the other fishes' reproductive site), and 2) rapid straight downward movement of several meters to consume eggs appears to be unique to cichlids. Further trophic specialization among amarillos, such as practiced by the Malawi cichlids, might evolve if the Nicaraguan cichlids reproduced throughout the year "