![]() The widespread dichromatism with conspicuous male and more cryptic female colouration is traditionally attributed to sexual selection on males of polygamous species with maternal brood care. colour pattern variation within populations, occurs both as sexual dichromatism and sex-independent variation. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of this variation, its underlying mechanisms and evolutionary consequences, and identify knowledge gaps and priorities for future research. Frequently, the differently coloured body regions are not defined by sharp boundaries but rather shade into one another-in contrast to the sharp-edged patterns of many well-known coral reef fishes.Ĭolour patterns vary not only between cichlid species, but also within and among populations of a species (sexual dichromatism, polychromatism and geographic variation), as well as within individuals, depending on their age and social status. In many species, body colours are overlaid with dark vertical bars and/or horizontal stripes. Closely related species often differ in little else but the colour of body and fins. For example, the several hundred species of the East African Great Lakes emerged within tens of thousands to some million years. It is not only their phenotypic diversity that makes cichlids so fascinating, but also the speed at which some of this diversity evolved. Taxonomically, Cichlidae are divided into several tribes, among which for example the African Haplochromini are renowned as particularly species rich and colourful. The family comprises between 20 species that inhabit rivers and lakes in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and the Americas, as well as India and Sri Lanka. We suggest that the integration of genomic approaches with ecological and behavioural studies, across the entire cichlid family and beyond it, will contribute to the utility of the cichlid model system for understanding the evolution of biological diversity.Ĭichlid fishes are well-known among aquarists and biologists for their enormous colour diversity. While we conclude that cichlid colours are excellent models for understanding the role of animal communication in species divergence, we also identify taxonomic and methodological biases in the current research effort. ![]() We specifically address the evidence for the hypothesis that divergence in colouration is associated with the evolution of reproductive isolation between lineages. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying colour variation in this group and the selective pressures responsible for the observed variation. ![]() In addition to complex social behaviour and morphological versatility, they are characterised by extensive diversity in colouration, both within and between species. Cichlid fishes constitute one of the most species-rich families of vertebrates. ![]()
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