Ostorhinchus notatus Spawning | Spotnape Cardinalfish

This is a pair of spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) engaged in spawning. The female on the right has just released a clutch of eggs, and the male is fertilizing them. Wisps of the male’s sperm are visible. both coming out of the male and around the eggs. After fertilization, the male moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. He will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting the eggs in his mouth. While avoiding these charges by the female, the male spits out and takes the eggs back into his mouth multiple times. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.

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Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 4955x3303 / 46.9MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Cardinalfish Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Perciformes Apogonidae Ostorhinchus notatus Apogon notatus Spotnape Cardinalfish Spot-nape Cardinalfish Kurohoshi-ishimochi Reproduction Spawning Eggs Paternal Mouthbrooding Pacific Japan Shizuoka Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

This is a pair of spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) engaged in spawning. The female on the right has just released a clutch of eggs, and the male is fertilizing them. Wisps of the male’s sperm are visible. both coming out of the male and around the eggs. After fertilization, the male moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. He will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting the eggs in his mouth. While avoiding these charges by the female, the male spits out and takes the eggs back into his mouth multiple times. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.