Filial cannibalism in the cortez damselfish Stegastes rectifraenum

Abstract

Male cortez damselfish in a central Gulf of California population, ate 28.3% of the clutches they received. Males ate clutches that were smaller than average and that were at early stages of development. When multiple clutches were present, males preferentially ate the younger, smaller clutches. Females were more likely to deposit eggs with males who were caring for other early-stage eggs and to avoid males with late-stage eggs. This pattern was accentuated in females that deposited smaller clutches. Filial cannibalism thus represents an adaptive response to clutches that do not provide adequate benefits to warrant the costs of parental care. -from Authors