African cichlid fish have a memory span of up to twelve days, a new study has shown.
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| Cichlid ˈ/siklid/ fish, photo by Pixabay.com |
Researchers trained the fish to go to one end of a tank for food before they then rested them for 12 days.
When the fish were returned to the tank they spent more time in the area they associated with being fed, suggesting they remembered their training.
The fish were also able to replace a previously learnt memory trace with a new long-term memory.
The result of the study adds further evidence of the complex mental abilities of fish.
Lead scientist, Dr Trevor Hamilton, said:
"There are many anecdotes about how smart these fish are. Some people even believe that their cichlids watch television with them."
