Biology of the molluscivorous fish Trematocranus placodon (Pisces: Cichlidae) from lake Malawi

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biology of the molluscivorous fish Trematocranus placodon (Pisces: Cichlidae) from lake Malawi

AU - Madsen, Henry

AU - Kamanga, K.C.J.

AU - Stauffer, J.R.

AU - Likongwe, J.

PY - 2010/9

Y1 - 2010/9

N2 - Tramatocranus placodon is a facultative molluscivore endemic to the Lake Malaŵi catchment basin, Malaŵi, Africa. T. placodon feeds on both Bulinus nyassanus, which is a host of human urinary schistosomes, and Melanoides spp. in the open waters of Lake Malaŵi. We found that there was a dietary shift from insects and small snails to larger snails as the fish grew, and this correlated with the development of the lower pharyngeal bone, which is instrumental in crushing snails. There was also an increase of the proportion B. nyassanus in the diet just before the onset of spawning.

AB - Tramatocranus placodon is a facultative molluscivore endemic to the Lake Malaŵi catchment basin, Malaŵi, Africa. T. placodon feeds on both Bulinus nyassanus, which is a host of human urinary schistosomes, and Melanoides spp. in the open waters of Lake Malaŵi. We found that there was a dietary shift from insects and small snails to larger snails as the fish grew, and this correlated with the development of the lower pharyngeal bone, which is instrumental in crushing snails. There was also an increase of the proportion B. nyassanus in the diet just before the onset of spawning.

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0270-5060

VL - 25

SP - 449

EP - 454

JO - Journal of Freshwater Ecology

JF - Journal of Freshwater Ecology

IS - 3

ER -