Portland State University. Department of Biology
Date of Award
Master of Science (M.S.) in Biology
1 online resource (v, 56 pages)
Catfishes, Sound production by animals, Loricariidae -- Behavior, Loricariidae -- Morphology
The Neotropical catfish Pterygoplichthys pardalis produces a harsh stridulation sound upon manual capture. This stridulation sound is made on the abduction of the pectoral fin spine, and is accomplished by friction of a ridged dorsal condyle against a rough spinal fossa of the cleithrum in the pectoral girdle. The sound produced has an average frequency of 121 Hz, and is used with other anti-predator adaptations such as bony subdermal armor and defensive fin-spreading. Pterygoplichthys pardalis does not display behavioral modification in response to conspecific stridulation sound, and therefore it is likely that stridulation sound in P. pardalis is being used as a predator deterrent.
Slusher, Monique Renee, "Morphological Correlates and Behavioral Functions of Sound Production in Loricariid Catfish, with a Focus on Pterygoplichthys pardalis (Castelnau, 1855)" (2018). Dissertations and Theses. Paper 4155.
Available for download on Thursday, January 17, 2019