How Male Cichlids Trick Females into Fertilizing Eggs

Aulonocara nyassae, also known as the emperor cichlid, is a species of haplochromine Cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in Africa. Male haplochromine cichlids develop egg spots on their anal fins that resemble female eggs, tricking females into fertilizing the eggs in their mouths. Haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlid fishes with a wide range of behaviors, including mouthbrooding, and are primarily found in African Great Lakes. Research shows that egg spots on male cichlids are formed through coordinated pigment-cell development and can be influenced by the social environment.