Ecology Summary - Ochmacanthus alternus
Ecology of Ochmacanthus alternus
 
Main Ref. Winemiller, K.O. and H.Y. Yan, 1989
Remarks O. alternus has been observed to emerge from the substrate at night and attempt to attach itself to the bodies of cichlids. Its unusually thin-walled alimentary canal should be adaptive for mucus feeding since mechanical breakdown of particles would be a minimal requisite. It possesses a leech-like morphology that presumably facilitates attachment to the host's body. The broad, ventrically oriented mouth armed with numerous minute teeth may function as a sucker in addition to its primary role as a mucus scraper (Ref. 36962).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Ochmacanthus alternus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type plants/detritus+animals (troph. 2.2-2.79)
Feeding type Ref. Winemiller, K.O. and H.Y. Yan, 1989
Feeding habit
Feeding habit Ref.
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 2.00 0.00 Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items
Ref.
(e.g. 9948)
(e.g. oophagy)
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