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  • Male and female humpback whale diving. The male has his penis extended. I observed this pair hanging out for extended periods of time in between dives. The female had a habit of hanging in a head-down position, with the ventral surface of her fluke held parallel to the surface of the water, at or just above the water line, while the male stayed nearby. It is possible that the two whales were engaged in courtship behavior.
    male-humpback-whale-penis-visible-ma...tif
  • During courtship, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) sometimes swim together in a graceful manner reminiscent of a choreographed performance, and take an interest in boats and people. The two whales pictured here are a good example. The closer whale is the male, while the darker whale in the background performing a spyhop is the female. I came across this pair outside the Hunga island area in Vava'u, Tonga.
    humpback-whales-engaged-in-courtship...tif
  • A pair of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) engaged in courtship, with the female in the foreground exhaling bubbles.
    humpback-whale-courtship-blowing-bub...tif
  • Close-up view of the pectoral fin of a female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) that was one of the two whales in a courting pair. She was very friendly and approached closely on a number of occasions. Note what appear to be parasites attached to some of the barnacles on the pectoral fin.
    close-up-view-pectoral-fin-humpback-...tif
  • Pair of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) engaged in courtship. The female is in the foreground. She is at the surface, re-entering the water after performing a spyhop. Note how graceful and delicate the movement of her pectoral fin is.
    humpback-whale-courtship-megaptera-n...tif
  • Female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) doing a spyhop, with motor boat and person in the background. This whale was the female of a pair engaged in courtship. The whales were extremely inquisitive and friendly, proactively approaching and engaging people in the water. The person in the background is Captain Ongo, who was one of the people who started the whale watching industry in Vava'u, Tonga.
    humpback-whale-spyhop-with-boat-and-...tif
  • Red Light District: A pair of mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) mating at late dusk, photographed to appear as if illuminated against a red lantern suggestive of red light districts. Photographed in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    mating-mandarinfish-at-night-synchir...tif
  • Pair of Risbecia tryoni nudibranchs mating. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
    Risbecia-tryoni-nudibranchs-mating-l...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of olive ridley turtles (Lepidocheyls olivacea) engaged in mating.
    lepidocheyls-olivacea-olive-ridley-t...tif
  • This is a pair of Pharoah cuttlefish (Acanthosepion pharaonis) mating. The cephalopods lock arms, and the male passes spermatophores to the female by means of a specialized arm (hectocotylus). The male stays with the female while she deposits eggs, to prevent access by rivals. Visible on the ground at the left side of the photo are strands of a stringy substance emitted by the female via her siphon each time before she deposits an egg. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    acanthosepion-pharaonis-cuttlefish-m...tif
  • This is a pair of broadclub cuttlefish (Sepia latimanus) mating. Having succeeded in gaining the female's acceptance, the male on the right has wrapped his arms around the female's head. He is in the process of deliverying a package of sperm with his hectocotylus (modified left tentacle). The male typically stays with the female while she deposits fertilized eggs, to guard against copulation by other males.
    sepia-latimanus-cuttlefish-mating-ja...tif
  • This is a pair of mating Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels engaged in copulation on a cold winter day.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • This is a pair of mud crabs (Scylla sp.) preparing to mate in the late summer. The male is on top, with the female upside-down beneath.
    scylla-mud-crabs-mating-japan-202208...tif
  • This is a pair of mud crabs (Scylla sp.) preparing to mate in the late summer. The male is on top, with the female upside-down beneath.
    scylla-mud-crabs-mating-japan-202208...tif
  • A pair of Nembrotha cristata nudibranchs enjoying a morning tryst
    green-and-black-Nembrotha-cristata-n..tiff
  • This is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels mating. Copulation occurs multiple times over an extended period of time. This can happen inside the nest or outside, as shown here. Mating can take place in the day time or at night.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • Female humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) engaged in courtship (male visible in the rear), slapping the water and creating an impressive bubble stream. These whales were extremely friendly. They engaged for several hours with people in the water.
    humpback-whales-engaged-in-courtship...tif
  • A pair of bigeye jacks (Caranx sexfasciatus), with the male temporarily turned black in preparation for spawning. Another pair of fish also getting ready to spawn is visible in the background. These fish were among a large school of several hundred jacks swimming above the Blue Corner dive site in Palau.
    bigeye-trevally-mating-spawning-blue...tif
  • Shown here is a female Pharoah cuttlefish (Acanthosepion pharaonis) in the foreground preparing an egg for fertilization, using the spermatophores passed to her by the attending male. The female's scrunched-up face is characteristic of this point in the reproductive process. Shortly after this photo was taken, the female deposited a single egg in a crevice among the rocks. This pair was at 25m depth. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    acanthosepion-pharaonis-cuttlefish-m...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation. As shown here, the female can, and often does, put up some measure of resistance, occasionally dislodging the male completely. The male’s penis is visible.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation. As shown here, the female can, and often does, put up some measure of resistance, occasionally dislodging the male completely. The male’s penis is visible.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) engaged in copulation. This is an extended process spanning many hours, during which the male often needs to fend off rivals while engaging in repeated bouts of copulation.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrels-mati...tif
  • This is a pair of strawberry conch shells (Conomurex luhuanus) engaged in reproduction. The male is in the rear. He has mounted the female, positioning to the female's posterior rear. This allows him to fertilize via the female's siphonal notch. The female is depositing a long, tubular egg mass, which is adhesive and partially buried in the sand. Some of the eggs are visible at full magnification. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    conomurex-luhuanus-strawberry-conch-...tif
  • This is a male and female pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii), with one inside the nest and the other above. This female (inside the nest) is in oestrus. The male is standing guard. Another male approached repeatedly, resulting in heated confrontation, with the males chasing one another, occasionally leaping and gliding among trees.
    japanese-dwarf-flying-squirrel-matin...tif
  • The two Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels pictured here had just emerged from their nest, taking a moment here prior to foraging. This pair mated 35 days after this photo was taken. One of the pair was taken by a northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) about a week after mating took place. The survivor left the nest, most likely joining other individuals in another nest.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii) shortly before mating. The female is in front. She has lifted her tail, letting the male check her status by smell. They mated one hour after this photo was taken. This perch is stained with urine, and there are feces visible. This is an indication that it is frequented by these and possibly other flying squirrels.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in unusual post-mating courtship activity. Earlier in the morning, the pair had completed hours of courtship, culminating with the female (background) depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (foreground). Once this takes place, the pair usually return to independent activity, most often foraging for food. In this instance, the pair stayed together. They maintained body contact, often with their prehensile tails intertwined. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-co...tif
  • This is a palr of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in unusual post-mating courtship activity. Whenever the two seahorses separated and were not in direct physical contact, they maintained frequent eye contact, as depicted here with the male in the background (belly full of eggs) looking toward the female. Earlier in the morning, the pair had completed hours of courtship, culminating with the female depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male. Once this takes place, the pair usually return to independent activity, most often foraging for food. In this instance, the pair stayed together. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks, depending upon the time of year. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-co...tif
  • This is a pair of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in unusual post-mating courtship activity. Earlier in the morning, the pair had completed hours of courtship, culminating with the female (right) depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (left). Once this takes place, the pair usually return to independent activity, most often foraging for food. In this instance, the pair stayed together. They maintained body contact, often with their prehensile tails intertwined as pictured here. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks, depending upon the time of year. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-co...tif
  • This is a palr of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in unusual post-mating courtship activity. Whenever the two seahorses separated and were not in direct physical contact, they maintained frequent eye contact, as depicted here. Earlier in the morning, the pair had completed hours of courtship, culminating with the female (right) depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (left). Once this takes place, the pair usually return to independent activity, most often foraging for food. In this instance, the pair stayed together. They maintained body contact, often with their prehensile tails intertwined as pictured here. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks, depending upon the time of year. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-co...tif
  • Female humpback whale calf (Megaptera novaeangliae) and its mother with multiple escort male humpbacks. There was a frenzy of males around this mother and calf pair. I have seen this type of behavior on multiple occasions. I believe it may have something to do with the adult female being in estrus, receptive to potential mating opportunities for a limited duration.
    humpback-whale-female-with-calf-mult...tif
  • This is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels that have emerged from the nest at dusk. The female seated above is entering estrus. The male is checking her readiness for mating.
    pteromys-volans-orii-flying-squirrel...tif
  • Depicted here is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels sharing a nest high up in the canopy. The larger individual on the left is female, the other male. During the peak of reproductive season, males and females often pair up like this. The bonds are not permanent though, and fidelity is not certain. It is not unusual for females to mate with more than one male.
    pteromys-volans-orii-pair-japan-2021...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii Japanese dwarf flying squirrel male perched at the top entrance to a nest. On this day, he was guarding a female inside the nest. She was in estrus, and the male was warding off other males. This pair mated several times throughout the day, but the female also mated with another male while this one was unaware. This photo is one in a series of three which illustrate the height of the nest.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii Japanese dwarf flying squirrel male perched at the top entrance to a nest. On this day, he was guarding a female inside the nest. She was in estrus, and the male was warding off other males. This pair mated several times throughout the day, but the female also mated with another male while this one was unaware. This photo is third in a series of three which illustrate the height of the nest.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii Japanese dwarf flying squirrel male perched at the top entrance to a nest. On this day, he was guarding a female inside the nest. She was in estrus, and the male was warding off other males. This pair mated several times throughout the day, but the female also mated with another male while this one was unaware. This photo is first in a series of three which illustrate the height of the nest.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Japanese dwarf flying squirrels (Pteromys volans orii). The one in front is male. The one peeking out from behind is female. They are situated at the top entrance to their nest, caressed by warm light from the setting winter sun. This pair mated several times throughout the day. There was another male in the area, a challenger. The female mated with the other male as well, when this one was not looking.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) engaged in spawning. The lighter-colored female on the left is depositing eggs into the brooding pouch of the male (right, looking toward the camera). The male’s pouch is swollen and distended to make room for the eggs, which he fertilizes once they are deposited. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-sp...tif
  • This male and female Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels have paired up for the reproductive season. They had just finished foraging for food high in the canopy and were sitting together like this during light snow. The pair mated a few days after this photograph was taken. The male is on the right, female left.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels that have just emerged from their nest early in the morning during the winter reproductive season. The individual on the left is female, right male. After preening together, the pair ascended into the canopy to forage. They mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels that have just emerged from their nest early in the morning during the winter reproductive season. The individual facing the camera is male. After preening together, the pair ascended into the canopy to forage. They mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels that have just emerged from their nest early in the morning during the winter reproductive season. The individual on the left is female, right male. After preening together, the pair ascended into the canopy to forage. They mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel male grooming itself after emerging from his nest on an early winter morning. This male shared the nest with a female. The pair mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel male grooming itself after emerging from his nest on an early winter morning. This male shared the nest with a female. The pair mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel male grooming itself after emerging from his nest on an early winter morning. This male shared the nest with a female. The pair mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a portrait of a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel male illuminated by the light of an early winter morning. He had just emerged from his nest, followed shortly thereafter by a female. The pair mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel male pausing after grooming himself during an early winter morning. This male shared the nest with a female, which joined him shortly after this photo was taken. The pair mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a Pteromys volans orii flying squirrel male grooming itself after emerging from his nest on an early winter morning. This male shared the nest with a female. The pair mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a pair of Pteromys volans orii flying squirrels that have just emerged from their nest early in the morning during the winter reproductive season. The individual on the left is female, right male. After preening together, the pair ascended into the canopy to forage. They mated 10 days after this photo was taken.
    japanese-flying-squirrel-pteromys-vo...tif
  • This is a palr of Korean seahorses (Hippocampus haema) preparing to spawn. About 30 seconds after this photo was taken, the seahorses swam up from the reef, where the lighter-colored female (left) deposited eggs into the abdominal pouch of the male (right). Once spawning takes place, seahorses usually  usually return to independent activity, most often foraging for food. In this instance, the pair stayed together post-spawning and continued courtship-like behavior. They maintained body contact, often with their prehensile tails intertwined. The male broods the eggs for three to ten weeks, depending upon the time of year. After hatching the juveniles, the male engages in courtship with the female and mates again throughout the spring and summer breeding season. Pair bonds are reasonably consistent, though there seems to be some mixing that takes place. Described in 2017, this species is found in the waters of Korea, as well as along the southern and western coasts of Japan.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-co...tif
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