Female Cichlid Fish (IMAGE)

University of Maryland

Female Cichlid Fish

Caption

The female cichlid fish in Lake Malawi are generally drab and brown (top), making them inconspicuous to predators. Drs. Kocher and Roberts believe that the orange blotch color pattern (bottom) emerged as a new mutation in females, and has a selective advantage in providing an alternative form of camouflage.

Credit

Reade Roberts University of Maryland

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