Liparis tanakae Snailfish Male Dying

Liparis tanakae snailfishes have a lifespan of one year. Their final task is move to shallow water from their normal depths of 50m to 120m in order to spawn with as many females as possible. Males establish spawning terrority and protect eggs from predators. Their strength drains over time. Other males challenge them for coveted breeding sites. Eventually the males die, ceding spawning sites to the next male in turn. This male was still alive at the time of this photo and able to swim when needed to protect his territory. He died three days later. The fish's adhesive disk, formed from modified pectoral fins, is visible. There is a white circular scar visible on the fish's left, just above the adhesive disk. This might be the result of an encounter with an octopus. Photographed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

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Filename: liparis-tanakae-snailfish-male-dying-202401-0142.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 7585x5057 / 220.3MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Snailfish Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Teleostei Perciformes Liparidae Liparis tanakae Tanaka's Snailfish Kusauo Pacific Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

Liparis tanakae snailfishes have a lifespan of one year. Their final task is move to shallow water from their normal depths of 50m to 120m in order to spawn with as many females as possible. Males establish spawning terrority and protect eggs from predators. Their strength drains over time. Other males challenge them for coveted breeding sites. Eventually the males die, ceding spawning sites to the next male in turn. This male was still alive at the time of this photo and able to swim when needed to protect his territory. He died three days later. The fish's adhesive disk, formed from modified pectoral fins, is visible. There is a white circular scar visible on the fish's left, just above the adhesive disk. This might be the result of an encounter with an octopus. Photographed in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.