Inbreeding depression in the convict cichlid, <i>Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum</i> (Baird and Girard)

Abstract

Convict cichlids, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum , inbred for four and five generations exhibited moderate and severe morphological deformities. Deformed fishes were characterized by a more vertically sloping forehead, irregular jaw, hyoid, opercula and fin structure, reduced growth and irregular swimming behaviour. Inbred fish (F 4 , F 5 ) did not differ from F 1 s in their age of maturation or the average size of their first broods. Brood survival was 18.7% in F 5 inbred fish, compared to 75.5% in F 1 s.