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Fuiman and Magurran (1994. Development of predator defenses in fishes.
Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 4:145-183.) found that length-specific burst
swimming speeds of freely swimming early life stages of fishes are
proportionately higher than in yearling, subadult, or adult fish--
typically about 15 body lengths per second but ranging as high as 60 body
lengths per second. I assume that the young Cichlasoma were only
maintaining such speeds for brief periods of time--20 seconds, usually
less--the "standard length" of a "burst." Generally speaking, burst speeds
are independent of temperature (Beamish, 1978. Swimming capacity. in Fish
Physiology, Volume 7), but the warmer water there in Costa Rica might have
enhanced the swimming ability of the young cichlids even further.
Neal R. Foster, U.S. Department of Interior, USGS-Biological Resources
Division, Great Lakes Science Center, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan
48105-2807; Phone [+voicemail]: (313)994-3331-x264; FAX: (313)994-8780;
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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>
> Date: Mon, 23 Dec 1996 02:40:05 -0800
> From: Ron Coleman <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Fast Swimming Fry
>
> Hi,
> I was recently working up some data I collected last year in Costa Rica
> and was wondering if someone more knowledgeable in the "swimming"
> literature, particularly larval swimming could comment.
> Water velocities in this river change rapidly with precipitation, but at
> some places and times I recorded velocities of around 60 cm/sec.
> Free-swimming young of the species I study (Cichlasoma tuba, TL = roughly
> 1 cm to 1.5cm) were maintaining position in these currents (with some
> difficulty). This comes out to 40 to 60 body lengths per second of
> sustained swimming (for at least a few days before the water slowed down).
> This seems pretty high to me in comparison to the values I seem to be
> encountering in the literature.
>
> My question: is this unusually athletic or are there other fish doing
> similar things? Any pointers would be gratefully received.
> Thanks,
> Ron Coleman
> [log in to unmask]
>
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