Re: [RML] hermaphroditic

Adrian Tappin (tappin at powerup.com.au)
Mon, 04 Sep 2000 06:23:41 +1000

At 11:19 3/09/00 -0700, Peter wrote:
>On Sun, 3 Sep 2000, Dennis Holmes wrote:
>
> > Adrian, do you know if the fish would look like a male or female or
> either?
>
>I don't put too much faith in Nick's article as without histological
>examination you really can't say. It is very common for subdominant males to
>look like females, then at some point "change" to look like males. We've had
>these discussions re desert gobies before, histologically though there is no
>evidence for this occurring.

I believe Gerry Allen found hermaphroditic specimens in a number of
Chilatherine species. This was from inspection of internal organs not
external signs.

Heraphroditism (if that's how you spell the word) is common in a lot of
fish species, both freshwater and saltwater so I wouldn't discount in out
of hand in Rainbowfish. I don't believe there has been much investigation
into this area at all.

But, to answer your question Dennis, I would guess they don't look any
different than any other. You would need to cut them up into little pieces :-)

Adrian.

Adrian.