Synodontis multipunctata

As cuckoo Catfishes two African catfish species are known which occur in East African Lake Tanganyika. They are the only fish, which is known to operate brood parasitism. The name derives from the cuckoo, which is also a brood parasite.

There are two types:

  • Synodontis grandiops Wright & Page, 2006 ( bigeye cuckoo Fiederbartwels )
  • Synodontis multipunctatus Boulenger, 1898 ( multi-point cuckoo Fiederbartwels )

For a long time it was assumed that S. multipunctatus the only species with this reproductive biology is, to S. grandiops a second, very similar kind, was scientifically described in 2006. It has now been discovered that there was this kind, which operates the brood parasitism and was previously known only under a false name. In the meantime, however, has also been found that indeed p multipunctatus is a nesting parasite.

Reproductive biology

The cuckoo Catfishes are the only known brood parasites among fish and take mouthbrooding cichlids as hosts. The young catfish hatch rather than the cichlids and use their eggs as a first food. But it also happens that they mutually devour as larvae in the mouth of the host, so that finally only a juvenile remains. From other Fiederbartwelsarten has already been observed that they eat their eggs during spawning business of mouthbrooders. The cuckoo Catfishes also eat some of the mouthbrooders eggs, but to create their own and these are taken up by mouthbrooders females instead of or together with the mouthbrooders eggs.

Breeding Notes

It could be that some cichlids from Lake Tanganyika have already learned during the evolution that the cuckoo catfish pose a threat to their brood. Especially Tropheus species are extremely aggressive on the catfish, if they try to interfere with the spawning. In other mouthbrooders, such as Malawi or Victoriaseecichliden, the animals can be good, however, increased in the aquarium. These cichlids sell something less vehemently the catfish. However, it is possible horei with Lake Tanganyika cichlids such as Haplochromis.

Swell

Schraml, E. ( 2003): Catfishes from Lake Tanganyika. DATZ, 56 (8): 60-65.

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