Electrifying love: electric fish use species-specific discharge for mate recognition.

ABSTRACT: Mate choice is mediated by a range of sensory cues, and assortative mating based on these cues can drive reproductive isolation among diverging populations. A specific feature of mormyrid fish, the electric organ discharge (EOD), is used for electrolocation and intraspecific communication. We hypothesized that the EOD also facilitates assortative mating and ultimately promotes prezygotic reproductive isolation in African weakly electric fishes. Our behavioural experiments using live males as well as EOD playback demonstrated that female mate recognition is influenced by EOD signals and that females are attracted to EOD characteristics of conspecific males. The dual function of the EOD for both foraging and social communication (including mate recognition leading to assortative mating) unde

SUBMITTER: Feulner PG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2665802 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature