The ontogenetic development of egg-spots in the haplochromine cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni

A series of Astatotilapia burtoni photographs were used to investigate the ontogenetic development of male egg-spots, a putative evolutionary key innovation of haplochromine cichlids. Four stages of egg-spot development were defined and all males had developed true egg-spots (stage 4) before reaching a standard length of 25 mm. Raising condition only slightly influenced the timing of the first appearance of true egg-spots. (C) 2011 The Authors Journal of Fish Biology (C) 2011 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles