them. As this happens, the male cichlid that made the “nest” may move in front of her and spread his anal fin, which in many species is decorated with a line of large orange spots. The female may try to pick up the objects on the fin. As she does, the male releases his sperm, some of which swim into the female’s mouth, where they fertilize her
Females of many African cichlid fish lay their eggs on lake bottoms in depressions made by males. The females brood their eggs and young fry in their mouths. A female picks up her orange eggs almost as quickly as she lays them. As this happens, the male
cichlid that made the “nest” may move in front of her and spread his anal fin, which in many species is decorated with a line of large orange spots. The female may try to pick up the objects on the fin. As she does, the male releases his sperm, some of which swim into the female’s mouth, where they fertilize her eggs (Egger et al. 2011). If sensory exploitation explains the evolutionary origin of the female’s behavior, what prediction can you make about how female fish of a related species will respond to the normally unspotted anal fins of males that have been painted with colorful egg-like spots?
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