Rapid Gamete Maturation and Social Modulation Shape Reproductive Dynamics in a Brood Parasitic Catfish.

ABSTRACT: Obligatory brood parasitism requires specific reproductive adaptations in brood parasites to successfully exploit host reproduction. A key challenge is to precisely synchronize parasite egg laying with egg laying of the host. The Lake Tanganyika cuckoo catfish (Synodontis multipunctatus) exploits the mouthbrooding behavior of cichlids by rapidly intruding during host spawning and adding its own eggs to host clutches. Because host reproduction is highly unpredictable, cuckoo catfish must respond quickly when host spawning occurs. Such a reproductive strategy suggests the presence of adaptations in their reproductive biology that allow them to be able to participate in upcoming host spawning opportunities. Using a series of linked laboratory experiments, we investigated the reproducti

SUBMITTER: Zimmermann H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856514 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature