Associative behaviour of golbiid fishes (Teleostel : Gobiidae) and alpheid shrimps (Decapoda : Alpheidae)

Abstract

Behaviour and some ecological aspects of the associative living between gobiid fishes and alpheid shrimps were studied at Khang Khao and Sichang Islands, at the inner portion of the Gulf of Thailand, during the period of September 1985 to September 1986. Twelve species of gobiid fishes, viz, Myersina macro stoma, one unidentified species of Myersina, Ctenogobiops pomastictus, Cryptocentrus caeruleomaculatus, C. ingapurensis, C. cyanotaenia, C. cinctus and two underscribed species of Cryptocentrus, Amblyeleotris fontanesii, A. gymnocephala and another undescribed species of Amblyeleotris together with six species of alpheid shrimps, Alpheus distinguensus, A. djiboutensis, A, bellulus, A. rapacida? one undescribed and other one unidentified species of Alpheus were found. A comparative study of the behavioural patterns occurred outside the burrow in the natural condition between pair of Cryptooentrus singapurensis-Alpheus djiboutensis and one common undescribed species of Cryptocentrus-Alpheus bellulus were carried out in quantitative method Forty observations of each pair were observed underwater for a total of 800 minutes. Results showed that behavioural patterns outside the burrow of both pairs of gobiid fishes and alpheid shrimps were different. Behaviours occurred inside the burrow of these two pairs were also observed in laboratory but the results showed no difference in their behaviour.