Description

SINGLE PAPER

Volume 20, Issue 1 – 15 January 2014

Alejandro A. Vagelli: Ephemeral Sexual Dichromatism in Quinca mirifica (Teleostei, Apogonidae), a Black Apogonid with Solitary Behavior, pp. 1-10

Abstract

During their courtship behavior males Quinca mirifica Mees 1966 exhibit a rapid dramatic color change, from their normal deep-black coloration to a brilliant silvery/white displayed on most of their body including areas of the dorsal and pelvic fins. Such a well-defined and striking ephemeral sexual dichromatism has not been previously reported in Apogonidae. It is suggested that this trait developed in Q. mirifica because of the reproductive advantage that it conferred to an apogonid possessing a marked solitary/cryptic behavior and an appropriate physiological mechanism suited for such rapid and dramatic color changes.