title: The endocrine regulation of cichlids social and reproductive behavior through the eyes of the chanchita, Cichlasoma dimerus (Percomorpha; Cichlidae).
abstract: Sociobiology, the study of social behavior, calls for a laboratory model with specific requirements. Among the most obvious is the execution of social interactions that need to be readily observable, quantifiable and analyzable. If, in turn, one focuses on the neuroendocrinological basis of social behavior, restrictions grow even tighter. A good laboratory model should then allow easy access to its neurological and endocrine components and processes. During the last years, we have been studying the physiological foundation of social behavior on what we believe fits all the aforementioned requirements: the so called "chanchita", Cichlasoma dimerus. This Neotropical cichlid fish exhibits biparental care of the eggs and larvae and presents a hierarchical social system, established and sustained through agonistic interactions. The aim of the current article is to review new evidence on chanchita's social and reproductive behavior.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, IBBEA-Conicet, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina; Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Martín Roberto
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ramallo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, IBBEA-Conicet, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina; Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Leonel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morandini
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Agustina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Birba
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tubert
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiszbein
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Neuroendocrinología y Comportamiento, IBBEA-Conicet, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina; Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria (C1428EHA), CABA, Argentina. Electronic address: pandolfi@bg.fcen.uba.ar.
authors.forename: Matías
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D023681:Cichlids / Q000502:physiology*; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006728:Hormones / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D017440:Photoperiod; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
keywords: Behavior; Chanchita; Cichlasoma dimerus; Cichlids; Reproduction; Social hierarchies