"maulbruter/mouthbrooder"=barlowi

[dsjohn]

I understand that Romer & Hahn described barlowi as the "official" name for the form non for several years as maulbruter/mouthbrooder. In Romer's cichlid atlas vol 2 he opines that maulbruter may be a separate species from the form known then as brustband/breast-band might be a separate species which does not mouthbrood. He also mentions some reports of mouthbrooding by the male. I have seen a summary on the web but not the original paper. I was wondering if anyone has information on these questions? Is mouthbrooding facultative within individuals? a behavioral polymorphism within barlowi? regularly observed in males? Or are these questions still unanswered?

 

[Mike Wise]

As far as I know, only Dr. Romer thinks that there might be 2 different species involved. It is unlikely, since the only differences are behavioral. Mouthbrooding is not restricted to this apisto species. Other species have been reported to mouthbrood larvae. Blueblue even photographed an A. gibbiceps brooding in this fashion.

Based on observations of breeders here and elsewhere, mouthbrooding is mostly dependent on environment. In tanks with fine substrate and/or potential predators, the species generally mouthbroods the larvae. In tanks with coarser grained substrate and no predators, the species generally behaves like other apistos. Females have been known to alternate between brooding methods, so it isn't 'hardwired' into specific individuals. Males will take the larvae in their mouths on rare occasions. This is usually when the female is lost after the eggs have hatched. It rarely occurs if the mother can tend the larvae.

 

[dsjohn]

Thanks Mike that's fascinating. Is anyone tracking the Apisto species that have been reported to mouthbrood?

Dennis

 

[bourdinite]

I have seen an A.Pantalone brooding

 

[Microman]

Males will take the larvae in their mouths on rare occasions. This is usually when the female is lost after the eggs have hatched. It rarely occurs if the mother can tend the larvae.

It also occurs when the brood is relatively large. Ive had broods of between 30-45 larvae(A large brood for A barlowi)that have been split almost equally between male/female.
Mark...

 

[Microman]

As far as I know, only Dr. Romer thinks that there might be 2 different species involved.

I think Dr. Romer is now of the opinion that there is just one single species...
Mark...

 

[dsjohn]

Thanks Mark,
Three further questions to all:

Three species of "brooders" have been mentioned so far in this thread. I'm assuming there are others. Is anyone keeping track of this?

Are there any correlates anatomical or habitat related emerging?

Do the young show any behavioral daptation-ie swarming mouth or parent generally in response to parental signalling or enviromental threat cues?

Dennis

 

[bourdinite]

A. Pantalone fry that were incubated are too young to see if there is an impact! they have, today, 1 month !
I have a second generation with another female and don't incubates !

by against, I notice that even when the mouth of Pantalone is broader than that of any other Apistogramma like barlowi

 

[Mike Wise]

I don't know anyone who keeps a list of species that have mouthbrooding tendencies. A. barlowi has a head that is larger (compared to the rest of the body) than that of most other apistos. This may be an adaptation to mouthbrooding. Apistogramma is a geophagine genus. Like in other geophagine genera, where mouthbrooding occurs in various forms (primitive to advanced), shouldn't be that surprising to see a mouthbrooding apisto. What is more surprising is that it took so long before it was observed and reported.

 

[bourdinite]

before my A.Pantalone I had ever seen with the apistogramma's mouthbreeding except for movement of larvae!
I hope to see him with my barlowi I recently !

 

[dsjohn]

Thanks again for the info Mike. Bourdinite I see from Romer that you have made quite an accomplishment breeding Pantalone! I look forward to hearing a comparison of the behavior associated with mouthbrooding in barlowi and Pantalone.

Dennis

 

[bourdinite]

I have two breeding with A. Pantalone and behavior is not the same!
Friends had have reproduction of this species and have not noticed this behavior! maybe it's just an isolated to one of my females!

 

[apistodave]

Barlowi

If anyone is interested I have the description in PDF--I can send it along if yu like---Barlowi is named after George Barlow--E-mail me here/ [email protected]