Asian Sheepshead Wrasse Courtship | Semicossyphus reticulatus

This is a male Asian sheepshead wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus) courting a female. Note the sexual dimorphism, with the male being larger than the female, which has a swollen belly, indicative of her readiness to spawn. These wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they all start life as females, then change to males. This image is licensed on an exclusive basis to BBC through 29 October 2021.

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Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 5063x3379 / 49.0MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Wrasse Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Perciformes Labridae Semicossyphus reticulatus Asian Sheepshead Wrasse コブダイ Reproduction Courtship Pacific Japan Niigata Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

This is a male Asian sheepshead wrasse (Semicossyphus reticulatus) courting a female. Note the sexual dimorphism, with the male being larger than the female, which has a swollen belly, indicative of her readiness to spawn. These wrasses are protogynous hermaphrodites, meaning they all start life as females, then change to males. This image is licensed on an exclusive basis to BBC through 29 October 2021.