Behaviours associated with acoustic communication in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Background: Sound production is widespread among fishes and accompanies many social interactions. The literature reports twenty-nine cichlid species known to produce sounds during aggressive and courtship displays, but the precise range in behavioural contexts is unclear. This study aims to describe the various Oreochromis niloticus behaviours that are associated with sound production in order to delimit the role of sound during different activities, including agonistic behaviours, pit activities, and reproduction and parental care by males and females of the species.

Potential mechanism of sound production in Oreochromis niloticus (Cichlidae).

Although acoustic communication is an integral part of cichlid behaviour, its mechanism has never been identified before. In the present study, a combination of approaches was used to investigate the sound-producing mechanism of Oreochromis niloticus. Synchronisation of high-speed video data (500 frames s(-1)) and cineradiographies (250 frames s(-1)) with the sound recordings made it possible to locate the different body parts involved in sound production in territorial males.