Abstract
The anophthalmic hypogean cyprinid Phreatichthys andruzzii Vinciguerra shows a more efficient food searching behaviour than blinded specimens of the epigean species Barbus filamentosus Cuvier and Valenciennes. This difference seems to be related to a tendency to swim near the bottom of the aquarium and the behavioural stereotypes in food localization and intake. Both in P. andruzzii and in the blinded B. filamentosus food search is guided by chemical stimulation. Other data indicate that mechanical stimulation could play an important role in the feeding behaviour of the hypogean form. The behavioural analogies in food localization between P. andruzzii and the cave forms of the characid Astyanax fasciatus Cuvier are briefly discussed.
DOI
http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.22.1.4
Recommended Citation
Berti, Roberto and Luca Masciarelli.
1993.
Comparative performances of non-visual food search in the hypogean cyprinid Phreatichthys andruzzii and in the epigean relative Barbus filamentosus.
International Journal of Speleology,
22: 121-130.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol22/iss1/4
