INTRA-AND INTERSPECIFIC RELATIONS OF SALTWATER FISHES IN AQUARIUM : II. FISHES BELONGING TO ORDER PERCIDA AND OTHERS

Abstract

Intra-and interspecific relations of 43 species of saltwater fishes were studied by the chasing behavior in seven exhibition tanks and one experiment tank of the Suma Aquarium. The observations were carried out in Nov. 1961. By comparing the frequency of intraspecific chasing with that of interspecific chasing for each species, 15 species, Kuhlia taeniura, Diploprion bifasciatus, Girella punctata, G. melanichthys, Lethrinus haematopterus, L. choerorhynchus, Gymnocranius griseus, Hapalogenys nitens, Therapon jarbua, T. oxyrhynchus, Abudefduf sordidus, Microcanthus strigatus, Prionurus microlepidotus, Siganus fuscescens and Stephanolepis cirrhifer, are recognized as the intraspecific chasing type. Other eight species, Epinephelus fasciatus, Lethrinus nematacanthus, Amphiprion xanthurus, A. frenatus, A. chrysogaster, Tetradrachmum trimaculatum, Tridentiger trigonocephalus and Abudefduf vaigiensis, are regarded as the nonspecific chasing type. These chasing types were compared with social behaviors in the open sea. It was found that intraspecific chasing type correlates with the schooling behavior in the natural habitat and the nonspecific chasing type correlates with the assemblage and solitary behaviors.