Broodcare or Egg Cannibalism by Parents and Helpers in Neolamprologus brichardi (Poll 1986) (Pisces: Cichlidae): a Study on Behavioural Mechanisms

In the cichlid species N. brichardi the young are tended by parent animals and broodcare helpers. No qualitative differences in the care are apparent. The regulation of eggcare by nonreproductive helpers is of especial interest as it excludes an endogenous component found in the parental care of other cichlids, based on sex and the reproductive cycle. The importance of the factors dominance, territory, size (age) experience, model and the...