title: The ontogenetic development of egg-spots in the haplochromine cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni.
abstract: A series of Astatotilapia burtoni photographs were used to investigate the ontogenetic development of male egg-spots, a putative evolutionary key innovation of haplochromine cichlids. Four stages of egg-spot development were defined and all males had developed true egg-spots (stage 4) before reaching a standard length of 25 mm. Raising condition only slightly influenced the timing of the first appearance of true egg-spots.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Institute, University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heule
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Salzburger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D049628:Body Size; D023681:Cichlids / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D008297:Male