Ostorhinchus notatus Spawning | Spotnape Cardinalfish

Pictured here is a pair of spotnape cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus notatus) moments after the transfer of fertilized eggs to the male’s mouth during spawning. These fish are paternal mouthbrooders, meaning that the male holds the eggs in his mouth until they hatch. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. Shown here, the female (below) is engaged in what appears to be harassment of the male (above), which has their eggs in his mouth. The female chases the male, repeatedly appearing to target 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 at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-spawning 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: 6200x4133 / 73.6MB; 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

Pictured here is a pair of spotnape cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus notatus) moments after the transfer of fertilized eggs to the male’s mouth during spawning. These fish are paternal mouthbrooders, meaning that the male holds the eggs in his mouth until they hatch. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. Shown here, the female (below) is engaged in what appears to be harassment of the male (above), which has their eggs in his mouth. The female chases the male, repeatedly appearing to target 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 at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-spawning behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.