The Ontogeny of Social Behavior and Body Coloration in the African Cichlid Fish Haplochromis burtoni

Abstract

The ontogeny of behavioral patterns and body coloration are described for the African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni. The development of particular color patterns correlates directly with appearance of behavioral patterns which “use” those color patterns. There is a flexible timetable associated with these events which depends on both social and environmental factors.