Siamese fighting fish have to incorporate surface visits into their fights so they can breathe, according to a new study.
Native to south-east Asia, Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) are
named for the males' aggressive displays and are highly territorial.
They belong to the suborder Anabantoidei, and like all anabantoids they
possess a lung-like organ - known as a labyrinth organ and giving
anabantoids their other name, labyrinth fish - that allows them to obtain oxygen from air and water.
Researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia devised an
study to examine the energetic costs of B. splendens' aggressive
activity. They put two males (each in his own bottle) in a tank together
and analysed the gas levels within from each fish's tank before and
after its display. They found that the fish regularly surfaced because
they simply couldn't get enough oxygen in the water. The additional
oxygen needed for fighting was obtained solely by breathing air.
They also found that both fish surfaced at the same time. Rather than
the gentlemen-like behaviour this may seem, it's purely for tactical
reasons. This way neither fish will be attacked by the other. If you
attack your opponent when he's surfacing for air, you'd better make it
count - if you don't, he can attack you while you're breathing for air.
No one benefits from this exchange as both sides take a hit.
Dr. Steven Portugal (Royal Veterinary College, London, and involved in
the study) expressed surprise that the fish appeared to be operating
"operating so close to their limits" during fights. "It seems they can't
even take in more oxygen per breath, so these fights are seriously
demanding for the fish," he told the BBC.
Photo credit: Daniel Jones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Siamese fighting fish have to incorporate surface visits into their fights so they can breathe, according to a new study.
Native to south-east Asia, Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) are named for the males' aggressive displays and are highly territorial. They belong to the suborder Anabantoidei, and like all anabantoids they possess a lung-like organ - known as a labyrinth organ and giving
Native to south-east Asia, Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) are named for the males' aggressive displays and are highly territorial. They belong to the suborder Anabantoidei, and like all anabantoids they possess a lung-like organ - known as a labyrinth organ and giving
anabantoids their other name, labyrinth fish - that allows them to obtain oxygen from air and water.
Researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia devised an study to examine the energetic costs of B. splendens' aggressive activity. They put two males (each in his own bottle) in a tank together and analysed the gas levels within from each fish's tank before and after its display. They found that the fish regularly surfaced because they simply couldn't get enough oxygen in the water. The additional oxygen needed for fighting was obtained solely by breathing air.
They also found that both fish surfaced at the same time. Rather than the gentlemen-like behaviour this may seem, it's purely for tactical reasons. This way neither fish will be attacked by the other. If you attack your opponent when he's surfacing for air, you'd better make it count - if you don't, he can attack you while you're breathing for air. No one benefits from this exchange as both sides take a hit.
Dr. Steven Portugal (Royal Veterinary College, London, and involved in the study) expressed surprise that the fish appeared to be operating "operating so close to their limits" during fights. "It seems they can't even take in more oxygen per breath, so these fights are seriously demanding for the fish," he told the BBC.
Photo credit: Daniel Jones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/
Researchers from the University of Queensland, Australia devised an study to examine the energetic costs of B. splendens' aggressive activity. They put two males (each in his own bottle) in a tank together and analysed the gas levels within from each fish's tank before and after its display. They found that the fish regularly surfaced because they simply couldn't get enough oxygen in the water. The additional oxygen needed for fighting was obtained solely by breathing air.
They also found that both fish surfaced at the same time. Rather than the gentlemen-like behaviour this may seem, it's purely for tactical reasons. This way neither fish will be attacked by the other. If you attack your opponent when he's surfacing for air, you'd better make it count - if you don't, he can attack you while you're breathing for air. No one benefits from this exchange as both sides take a hit.
Dr. Steven Portugal (Royal Veterinary College, London, and involved in the study) expressed surprise that the fish appeared to be operating "operating so close to their limits" during fights. "It seems they can't even take in more oxygen per breath, so these fights are seriously demanding for the fish," he told the BBC.
Photo credit: Daniel Jones.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/
http://www.sciencedirect.com/
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