Bristlenose Plec - Appendage On His Sides

[kaivalagi]

Hi All,

I just witnessed the strangest feature of my Male BN, he is still a juvi but is accumulating some nice bristles on his nose now

What I saw was the flaring of some strange appendages (looks like a brush almost) on the sides of his head (just in front of is pectoral fins).

I tried to get a pic but as per usual when the camera is out I get nothing, here's an old pic of him with the area highlighted I am talking about:



Can anyone explain what these might be, why they are used and what it could mean behaviour wise?

I'm just curious really as I haven't read about them anywhere and haven't noticed them before now

Thanks

 

[kaivalagi]

Just found an interesting, if somewhat scientific web page on it, these are "erectile cheek-bone apparatus" apparently used territorially

http/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16949806

You learn something every day

 

[scatz]

all male plecs will grow cheek spines (chew chew), some species like big panaques can get some really impressive whiskers

pic belongs to matubula, taken from plecoplanet.com

 

[kaivalagi]

My god, very impressive whiskers!


What got me was how hidden they were on my BN, and when I saw he extend and contract them, when my HRP was getting near him, it looked a tad strange