COLOR PATTERN AND INHIBITION OF AGGRESSION IN THE CICHLID FISH ASTRONOTUS-OCELLATUS

Oscars Astronotus oceilatus defeated in combat often undergo a colour pattern change in which the normal olive-green to brown body coloration darkens to near black, interrupted with irregular white barring. Dummy oscars were used in two complementary tests which shelved that the dark-and-banded colour pattern inhibits aggression in conspecifics under two different experimental designs and with two different subject groups. (C) 1995 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles