Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae)
We observed individuals of Odontostilbe pequira, a small characid, approaching and biting individuals of larger-bodied fishes of other species. This observation was made in two clear water headwater streams of the Cuiabá basin, Paraguay River system, located in Nobres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, whi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia
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| Series: | Neotropical Ichthyology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252012000200011&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1818913816221581312 |
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| author | Monise R. L. Lima Eduardo Bessa Diones Krinski Lucélia Nobre Carvalho |
| author_facet | Monise R. L. Lima Eduardo Bessa Diones Krinski Lucélia Nobre Carvalho |
| author_sort | Monise R. L. Lima |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We observed individuals of Odontostilbe pequira, a small characid, approaching and biting individuals of larger-bodied fishes of other species. This observation was made in two clear water headwater streams of the Cuiabá basin, Paraguay River system, located in Nobres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, which led us to investigate the behavioral interactions of these fish. We characterized behavioral interactions between species by direct underwater observations using snorkelling and video recordings. Additionally, we proceeded diet analyses of O. pequira, obtaining intestinal coefficient and the index of alimentary importance. During underwater observations we checked the relative frequency of attacks by O. pequira on larger fish species. Odontostilbe pequira attacked individually or in large groups, and the anostomid Leporinus friderici was the preferred target prey species, while Prochilodus lineatus was apparently avoided. Our study sustains that O. pequira is omnivorous, with a diet that varies seasonally. It feeds mainly on plants, but also on animal prey, including the scales of small fishes, and, possibly, the mucus and epidermis of larger fish species. We suggest the term "mutilating predation" to describe the latter relationship. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:36:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce7345c66d894224be63d606baffb0e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1982-0224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T23:36:30Z |
| publisher | Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neotropical Ichthyology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce7345c66d894224be63d606baffb0e02022-12-21T20:01:35ZengSociedade Brasileira de IctiologiaNeotropical Ichthyology1982-022410236136810.1590/S1679-62252012000200011S1679-62252012000200011Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae)Monise R. L. Lima0Eduardo Bessa1Diones Krinski2Lucélia Nobre Carvalho3Universidade do Estado de Mato GrossoUniversidade do Estado de Mato GrossoUniversidade Federal do ParanáUniversidade Federal de Mato GrossoWe observed individuals of Odontostilbe pequira, a small characid, approaching and biting individuals of larger-bodied fishes of other species. This observation was made in two clear water headwater streams of the Cuiabá basin, Paraguay River system, located in Nobres, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, which led us to investigate the behavioral interactions of these fish. We characterized behavioral interactions between species by direct underwater observations using snorkelling and video recordings. Additionally, we proceeded diet analyses of O. pequira, obtaining intestinal coefficient and the index of alimentary importance. During underwater observations we checked the relative frequency of attacks by O. pequira on larger fish species. Odontostilbe pequira attacked individually or in large groups, and the anostomid Leporinus friderici was the preferred target prey species, while Prochilodus lineatus was apparently avoided. Our study sustains that O. pequira is omnivorous, with a diet that varies seasonally. It feeds mainly on plants, but also on animal prey, including the scales of small fishes, and, possibly, the mucus and epidermis of larger fish species. We suggest the term "mutilating predation" to describe the latter relationship.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252012000200011&lng=en&tlng=enAnimal behaviorFeeding plasticityLepidophagyUnderwater observations |
| spellingShingle | Monise R. L. Lima Eduardo Bessa Diones Krinski Lucélia Nobre Carvalho Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae) Neotropical Ichthyology Animal behavior Feeding plasticity Lepidophagy Underwater observations |
| title | Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae) |
| title_full | Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae) |
| title_fullStr | Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae) |
| title_short | Mutilating predation in the Cheirodontinae Odontostilbe pequira (Characiformes: Characidae) |
| title_sort | mutilating predation in the cheirodontinae odontostilbe pequira characiformes characidae |
| topic | Animal behavior Feeding plasticity Lepidophagy Underwater observations |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1679-62252012000200011&lng=en&tlng=en |
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