Evolution in Your FaceLake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, is home to more than 300 species of cichlids. These fish, which are popular in aquariums, are deep-bodied and have one nostril, rather than the usual two, on each side of the head. Seismic profiles and cores of the lake taken by a team headed by Thomas C. Johnson of the University of Minnesota, reveal that the lake dried up completely about 12,400 years ago. This means that the rate of speciation of cichlid fishes has been extremely rapid: something on average of one new species every 40 years!
by Patrick Huyghe
Omni
My husband keeps Lake Malawi cichlids. I highly reccommend them to anyone who wants colorful fish without the hassle of saltwater. The only downside is he won't let me serve tilapia for dinner anymore. Same fish, apparently :-D
Of course, it only started with cichlids. The dreaded Aquariphilia has now progressed to a second Rainbowfish tank, a third quarantine tank, and a fourth tank for the chip off the old block, because "having his own fish will teach him responsibility". We are rapidly approaching the "Hey, if we put a few tanks in the garage I could start breeding these guys- How soon can I retire?" stage of the disease.
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GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution.12,400 years ago? Hydrologic cycle came to a screeching whoa for some reason, hmm, what could it have been?Evolution in Your FaceLake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, is home to more than 300 species of cichlids. These fish, which are popular in aquariums, are deep-bodied and have one nostril, rather than the usual two, on each side of the head. Seismic profiles and cores of the lake taken by a team headed by Thomas C. Johnson of the University of Minnesota, reveal that the lake dried up completely about 12,400 years ago. This means that the rate of speciation of cichlid fishes has been extremely rapid: something on average of one new species every 40 years! |
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