The determination mechanisms of specialized food habit (live prey fish) in mandarin fish. The determination mechanisms of specialized food habit (live prey fish) in mandarin fish

Mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi (Basilewsky) (Percichthyidae), as a demersal piscivore, has very specialized feeding habits, for as soon as they start feeding the fry of this fish feed solely on fry of other fish species. In rearing conditions, mandarin fish has been found to accept live prey fish only, and refuse dead prey fish or artificial diets, very little is currently known about the molecular mechanisms of multiple genes which cover different pathways influencing the specialized food habit, such as live prey. We performed transcriptome comparisons between dead prey fish feeders and nonfeeders in mandarin fish. The determination mechanisms of specialized food habit (live prey fish) in mandarin fish could provide some instructions for research of food habit in animals, including mammals.