Emperor fish create new species due to 'mating'

The Cichlid Emperor's family lives in a freshwater environment in Africa that accidentally creates new species due to mating.

Emperor's aquarium at Oklahoma aquarium in Jenks, USA.(Photo: Fox News).

After 10 years of research in two freshwater lakes in Africa, international scientists led by evolutionary biologist Joana Meier from Cambridge University have uncovered an unknown range of Cichlid emperor fishes. came, created by mating of different species.

"This may be due to habitat conditions. The water is very opaque, causing them to confuse the color of their mates. Besides, the female emperor is not" picky ", leading to mating cases between different species, " explains evolutionary biologist Joana Meier from Cambridge University.

In Mweru Lake alone on the longest branch of the Congo River, the team has discovered more than 40 new species."The intercourse between different species in the Cichlid family has created a hybrid offspring that carries genes that combine the genetic traits of both parents," Meier added.

Cichlid is one of the most diverse families in the Emperor Fish order with at least 1,300 species that have been scientifically described. With a range of new species being created every year, scientists estimate the actual number of species in this family can be as high as 2,000 - 3,000.