Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe What is interspecific brood parasitism?
Jan 29, 2026
They explain how some species sneak eggs into other nests and why hosts end up raising foreign young. A fish example shows brood parasitism is not just birds. The conversation covers egg mimicry, host detection mistakes, and coercive strategies parasites use to get care. Evolutionary origins, genetics of egg traits, and how often this behavior arises are also discussed.
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What Interspecific Brood Parasitism Is
- Interspecific brood parasitism is when one species tricks another into raising its offspring.
- Parasitic birds often remove or replace host eggs to hide their invasion.
Cuckoo Catfish Hijacks Mouth Brooders
- Kelly describes the cuckoo catfish parasitizing mouth-brooding cichlids in Africa.
- Catfish lay eggs among host eggs which mom then takes into her mouth, mixing clutches.
Parasitic Young Eat Host Offspring
- Cuckoo catfish hatch faster and then consume the host hatchlings inside the mother's mouth.
- The host spends energy protecting parasitic young that then eat her own offspring.