Jawfish Hatching Eggs | Opistognathus iyonis

This is a male Opistognathus iyonis jawfish hatching a mouthful of eggs. A few of the juveniles can be seen swimming away. There are also two unfertilized eggs visible. Like other jawfish, the males of this species care for and protect developing juveniles, keeping the eggs in their mouths through the gestation period. The reproductive season is during the summer months. This shy small fish is known from the waters of the northwest Pacific, including South Korea and southern Japan. It reaches a length of about six centimeters.

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Filename: opistognathus-iyonis-jawfish-hatching-eggs-202007-1127.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 7608x5072 / 110.6MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Jawfish Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Perciformes Opistognathidae Opistognathus iyonis Nirami-Amadai Reproduction Paternal Brooding Paternal Mouthbrooding Eggs Hatching Pacific Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Marine Life | Japan

This is a male Opistognathus iyonis jawfish hatching a mouthful of eggs. A few of the juveniles can be seen swimming away. There are also two unfertilized eggs visible. Like other jawfish, the males of this species care for and protect developing juveniles, keeping the eggs in their mouths through the gestation period. The reproductive season is during the summer months. This shy small fish is known from the waters of the northwest Pacific, including South Korea and southern Japan. It reaches a length of about six centimeters.