Hemitripterus villosus Courtship | Sea Raven

This is a male sea raven (Hemitripterus villosus) swishing his caudal area in order to impress the large fish visible in the background just behind his tail. Males engage in displays like this to impress females during the reproductive season. The problem here was that the individual in the background was in fact male. He expressed his displeasure with the unwelcome courtship display with an aggressive lunge to chase the misguided suitor away. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.

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Filename: hemitripterus-villosus-sea-raven-202411-3469.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 6672x4448 / 175.1MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Sculpin Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Teleostei Perciformes Hemitripteridae Hemitripterus villosus Sea Raven Shaggy Sculpin Kemushi-kajika Reproduction Courtship Pacific Japan Hokkaido
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

This is a male sea raven (Hemitripterus villosus) swishing his caudal area in order to impress the large fish visible in the background just behind his tail. Males engage in displays like this to impress females during the reproductive season. The problem here was that the individual in the background was in fact male. He expressed his displeasure with the unwelcome courtship display with an aggressive lunge to chase the misguided suitor away. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.