Juvenile Smooth Lumpsucker | Aptocyclus ventricosus

Juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) sitting on marine algae. This fish was about 6mm long. Visible on the right side are two small crustaceans, perhaps amphipods, for scale. Juveniles spend their first few weeks in shallow water, then descend to the deep. They return to the shallows only for reproduction. Adult females die after laying eggs. Adult males protect the eggs until the juveniles are born, and then die.

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Filename: aptocyclus-ventricosus-juvenile-smooth-lumpsucker-japan-201905-478.tif
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Image Size: 6930x4620 / 91.7MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Lumpsucker Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Perciformes Cyclopteridae Smooth Lumpsucker Smooth Lumpfish Aptocyclus ventricosus Hotei-uo Juvenile Pacific Japan Hokkaido
Contained in galleries: Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

Juvenile smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus) sitting on marine algae. This fish was about 6mm long. Visible on the right side are two small crustaceans, perhaps amphipods, for scale. Juveniles spend their first few weeks in shallow water, then descend to the deep. They return to the shallows only for reproduction. Adult females die after laying eggs. Adult males protect the eggs until the juveniles are born, and then die.