Hairy Frogfish Spawning | Antennarius striatus

These two hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) are seconds away from spawning. The smaller male has positioned himself beneath the female to push her up into the water column. Her belly is swollen with eggs, and she has inflated herself to around twice her normal size in preparation for release of eggs. This may make it difficult for her to swim effectively without help. The male is positioned near where the eggs will be released. Being in this position may be critical for him to judge the precise moment when he should break away from the female and release sperm to fertilize the eggs.

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Image Size: 7332x4888 / 102.8MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Frogfish Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Lophiiformes Antennariidae Antennarius striatus Hairy Frogfish Striated Frogfish Striped Frogfish Reproduction Spawning Pacific Japan Kumamoto Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

These two hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) are seconds away from spawning. The smaller male has positioned himself beneath the female to push her up into the water column. Her belly is swollen with eggs, and she has inflated herself to around twice her normal size in preparation for release of eggs. This may make it difficult for her to swim effectively without help. The male is positioned near where the eggs will be released. Being in this position may be critical for him to judge the precise moment when he should break away from the female and release sperm to fertilize the eggs.