FISH and FISHERIES, 2002, 3, 213^224 Behaviour: an important diagnostic tool for Lake Malawi cichlids Jay R Stau¡er Jr1, Kenneth R McKaye2 & Ad F Konings3 1School of Forest Resources, Pennsylvania State University,University Park, Pennsylvania, PA16802, USA; 2Appalachian Laboratory,UMCES,301Braddock Road, Frostburg, Maryland, MD 21532, USA; 3Cichlid Press, PO Box13608, El Paso,Texas, T X 79913, USA Abstract Correspondence: Historically,the cichlid ¢shes of Lake Malawi, which probably represent one of the best Jay R. Stau¡er Jr, examples of rapid radiation of vertebrates, have been diagnosed with morphological School of Forest Resources, and genetic data. Many of the populations once thought to be conspeci¢c have been Pennsylvania State hypothesized to be separate species based on behavioural data. The use of behavioural University, data, as expressed in mate choice based on colour patterns or bower shapes, has been University Park, successfully used to diagnose both rock-dwelling and sand-dwelling cichlid species. Pennsylvania, PA Additionally,a combination of bower shapes and courtship patterns have been used as 16802, USA Tel.: þ1 814 863 0645 synapomorphies to diagnose genera within the Lake Malawi cichlid £ock. It is con- Fax: þ18148653725 cluded that taxonomists need to include behavioural data with morphological and E-mail:
[email protected] genetic databases to diagnose species and to determine the phylogenetic relationships withinthis diverse assemblage of ¢shes. Received 5 Dec 2001 Accepted10Jun 2002 Keywords allopatry,behaviour, Cichlidae,