Studying the evolution of social behaviour in one of Darwin’s Dreamponds: a case for the Lamprologine shell-dwelling cichlids

Abstract The link between the evolution of advanced sociality and cognition has been an important concept across fields taxonomic boundaries. However, in many study systems, ecological phylogenetic confounds impair evolutionary inferences drawn when comparing social organization. Here, we highlight value shell-dwelling Lamprologine cichlids Lake Tanganyika studies cognitive evolution. These species show differences organization, both within species, but otherwise exhibit remarkable similarities their ecology life history. We focus on attributes 15 that live permanent association with empty gastropod shells, often syntopy largely overlapping niches. then discuss difficulties terminology categorization outlining current emerging methodologies to address these limitations. Our goal is twofold: (i) gather available empirical evidence behaviour, history, cichlids, highlighting potential comparative evolution, (ii) stimulate debate critical appraisal categorizations structure, ideally leading more precise empirically standardized definitions cichlids.