Spratelloides gracilis Herring Eggs

Shown here are eggs of silver-stripe round herrings (Spratelloides gracilis), which are are an important food species known as kibinago in Japan. Spawning frenzies occur in shallow water with massive numbers of fish. As females deposit eggs in the sand, males rush to fertilize, making the ocean opaque. This takes place over several days, five in this instance. The eggs are between 0.5 and 1mm in diameter. The eggs immediately adhere to sand and other particles, becoming nearly impossible to distinguish from the substrate. The eggs shown here were affixed to seaweed, making it possible to see them. The eggs were deposited within 48 hours of this photo being taken. Larval development can be seen. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

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Filename: spratelloides-gracilis-kibinago-herring-eggs-202405-0643.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 5458x3639 / 117.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Herring Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Teleostei Clupeiformes Spratelloididae Spratelloides gracilis Silver-stripe Round Herring Slender Sprat Kibinago Minnow Kibi-nago Reproduction Spawning Eggs Super Macro Pacific Japan Kagoshima Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Super Macro, Marine Life | Japan, Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos

Shown here are eggs of silver-stripe round herrings (Spratelloides gracilis), which are are an important food species known as kibinago in Japan. Spawning frenzies occur in shallow water with massive numbers of fish. As females deposit eggs in the sand, males rush to fertilize, making the ocean opaque. This takes place over several days, five in this instance. The eggs are between 0.5 and 1mm in diameter. The eggs immediately adhere to sand and other particles, becoming nearly impossible to distinguish from the substrate. The eggs shown here were affixed to seaweed, making it possible to see them. The eggs were deposited within 48 hours of this photo being taken. Larval development can be seen. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.