AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR INUEGITGLANIS ZAMMARANOIGIANFERRARI (CLARIIDAE SILURIFORMES), ANOPHTHALMIC PHREATIC FISH FROM SOMALIA

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Specimens of Uegitglanis zammaranoi Gianferrari (Clariidae Siluriformes) raised in isolation and tested in pairs exhibit distinct aggressive behaviour. A dominant-subordinate relationship becomes immediately apparent and remains virtually unchanged in successive tests in different aquaria. The immediate effect of dominance seems to be possession of the bottom by the dominant fish which banishes the subordinate to the upper levels of the aquarium. These fish possess a highly articulate and varied repertoire of successive acts, analogous to those shown by the epigeous siluriform Ictalurus. Some of the aggressive behaviour patterns observed in the laboratory have also been observed in one of the wells from which our specimens were collected.