Tropical fish are mammal-like parents

Discus fish are surprisingly attentive parents, scientists have found.
The colourful little creatures are known to feed their offspring with a nutritious mucus on their skin.

Now a study has suggested that the tropical fish actually wean their fry, "encouraging" them to forage for themselves, and that when it comes to looking after their young, discus fish have more in common with mammals.

Researchers describe their behaviour in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

This nurturing in discus fish is a well recognised behaviour, but this is the first time it has been studied in detail.

Mr Jonathan Buckley from the University of Plymouth, UK, was a member of the team that carried out the study.

via BBC - Earth News - Tropical fish are mammal-like parents.