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  • Goldbelly cardinalfish (Apogon apogonides) aerating eggs in its mouth
    goldbelly-cardinalfish-eggs-apogon-a...tif
  • This is a long shanny (Stichaeus grigorjewi) male guarding two clutches of eggs. This species lives in deep water, down to 300m, in the Northwest Pacific. They come up to shallow water for reproduction. Photographed in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
    stichaeus-grigorjewi-protecting-eggs...tif
  • Pictured here are eggs of sergeant major damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus). The juveniles are well-developed, with eyes clearly visible. Photographed at 4x life-size magnification.
    abudefduf-sexfasciatus-sergeant-majo...tif
  • Pictured here are freshly deposited eggs of sergeant major damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus). Photographed at 4x life-size magnification.
    abudefduf-sexfasciatus-sergeant-majo...tif
  • This is an Eualus leptognathus shrimp carrying eggs. The shrimp is sitting on Undaria pinnatifida kelp in the northern waters of Japan.
    eualus-leptognathus-shrimp-with-eggs...tif
  • This is a female painted frogfish (Antennarius pictus) heavily laden with a bellyful of eggs. A smaller, pitch-black male was nearby. The pair were perfectly camouflaged against coral and sponges.
    antennarius-pictus-female-with-eggs-...tif
  • This is a Pacific deer cowry (Lyncina vitellus) with eggs.
    lyncina-vitellus-with-eggs-pacific-d...tif
  • This is a red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) peeking out from its home, which is an abandoned burrow of a Dendropoma maximum snail. This individual is a male watching over a clutch of eggs that are almost ready to hatch.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • This female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) is depositing eggs on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The curved white strands are spermatophores attached by multiple males. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • These are developing embryos of a sculpin named Bero elegans, found in the northwest Pacific. The eggs of this species are blue in color and measure about 2mm to 3mm in size. Photographed at a magnification of two times life-size.
    bero-elegans-sculpin-eggs-japan-2019...tif
  • This is a side view of a polychaete worm in the Syllidae family, perhaps a Epigamia magna. Normally benthic residents, these segmented worms transition to sexually mature pelagic epitokes for the purpose of reproduction (as pictured here, carrying thousands of eggs). This individual was part of a swarm comprising many thousands of worms split up across multiple groups swimming in shallow water (surface to around 7m depth). I came across this aggregation in the 10 days leading up to full moon. Though I was unable to witness spawning, it seems that spawning took place after dark. Spawning did not appear to be synchronized. The swarm began to decrease in numbers after the full moon, suggesting the possibility of sequential spawning over a period of days.
    syllidae-polychaete-worm-with-eggs-j...tif
  • This is a head-on view of a polychaete worm in the Syllidae family, perhaps a Epigamia magna. Normally benthic residents, these segmented worms transition to sexually mature pelagic epitokes for the purpose of reproduction (as pictured here, carrying thousands of eggs). This individual was part of a swarm comprising many thousands of worms split up across multiple groups swimming in shallow water (surface to around 7m depth). I came across this aggregation in the 10 days leading up to full moon. Though I was unable to witness spawning, it seems that spawning took place after dark. Spawning did not appear to be synchronized. The swarm began to decrease in numbers after the full moon, suggesting the possibility of sequential spawning over a period of days.
    syllidae-polychaete-worm-with-eggs-j...tif
  • Close-up view of strands of multicolored sea hare eggs (Aplysia sp.)
    sea-hare-eggs-high-magnification-jap...tif
  • This is a female dark sleeper (Odontobutis obscura), a species of freshwater sleeper perch, protecting her brood of eggs. The developing embryos are close to hatching, as the eyes are clearly visible. This fish’s den was located in a tiny crevice in a small ditch by the side of a road.
    dark-sleeper-odontobutis-obscura-wit...tif
  • High-magnification view of an Ortmann squat lobster (Chirostylus ortmanni) carrying a clutch of eggs. The background is the primary stalk of the large soft coral upon which the squat lobster was living.
    chirostylus-ortmanni-squat-lobster-w...tif
  • This is an Ortmann squat lobster (Chirostylus ortmanni) carrying a clutch of eggs and using one of its long, spindly claws to bring something to its mouth. The background is the primary stalk of the large soft coral upon which the squat lobster was living.
    chirostylus-ortmanni-squat-lobster-w...tif
  • Close-up view of hairchin goby (Sagamia geneionema) eggs
    hairchin-goby-sagamia-geneionema-egg...tif
  • Coral cardinalfish (Siphamia corallicola) with a mouthful of orange eggs
    Siphamia-corallicola-coral-cardinalf...tif
  • Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) with clutch of eggs in its mouth, eyes of the developing embryos visible. These fish are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
    Pterapogon-kauderni-endangered-Bangg...tif
  • Goldbelly cardinalfish (Apogon apogonides) aerating eggs that it was carrying in its mouth.
    goldbelly-cardinalfish-eggs-apogon-a...tif
  • Rainbow mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus) resting its eggs on the camera lens
    close-up-of-mantis-shrimp-with-eggs-..tiff
  • Pictured here are eggs of sergeant major damselfish (Abudefduf sexfasciatus). Development of the juveniles has progressed to the stage where the bodies of the young fish are just taking form and becoming visible. Photographed at 4x life-size magnification.
    abudefduf-sexfasciatus-sergeant-majo...tif
  • This is a female whitespotted pygmy filefish (Rudarius ercodes) tending to a clutch of eggs that she has deposited on a cluster of bryozoans that have grown on the branches of a dead tree lodged in the substrate. Development of this species is rapid, with the juveniles hatching in approximately three days.
    rudarius-ercodes-tending-eggs-whites...tif
  • This is a male red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) watching over a clutch of eggs that are nearly ready to hatch.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • Composite image of various Syllidae polychaete worms that gathered around a light at night in order to prey upon smaller animals that had done the same. These worms were less than 1cm in size. All seemed to be carrying eggs. The middle image is of three entangled individuals.
    syllidae-polychaete-worms-with-eggs-...tif
  • This is a male fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) watching over several clutches of developing eggs. Normally drab and mottled, males of this species become a bright yellow-orange for the reproductive season.
    hexagrammos-otakii-fat-greenling-pro...tif
  • This is a female dark sleeper (Odontobutis obscura), a species of freshwater sleeper perch, protecting her brood of eggs. The developing embryos are close to hatching, as the eyes are clearly visible. This fish’s den was located in a tiny crevice in a small ditch by the side of a road.
    dark-sleeper-odontobutis-obscura-wit...tif
  • This is a male copperstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus holotaenia) with a mouthful of eggs just before hatching them. The juveniles are fully developed, eyes visible. Males of this species do this at night while swimming in erratic patterns. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    ostorhinchus-holotaenia-cardinalfish...tif
  • This is an egg raft spawned by a pair of red lionfishes (Pterois volitans). The pair produced two egg rafts of approximately equal size, each around 10cm in length. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    pterois-volitans-lionfish-eggs-japan...tif
  • After depositing an egg and prior to cleaning the eelgrass again, female Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) lift away from the grass in this manner. This is part of the process of preparing the next egg that will be deposited. Photographed at a magnification of two time life-size.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) is preparing to deposit an egg by cleaning the surface of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The curved white strands are spermatophores attached by multiple males. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This is a female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) taking a break after depositing an egg on a blade of eelgrass (Zostera marina). Reproductive season takes place twice a year..Adults of this species die after reproduction, which means that there are two generations each year. Size descriptions generate indicate maximum size of up to 18mm. The females in this area were considerably larger, in the range of 30mm. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • This female Japanese pygmy squid (Idiosepius paradoxus) is cleaning the surface of eelgrass (Zostera marina) prior to depositing an egg. The curved white strands are spermatophores attached by multiple males. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-depositi...tif
  • Pictured here are developing embryos of a Bero elegans sculpin. One egg on the left side of the photo appears not to have developed.
    bero-elegans-scuplin-embryos-eggs-ja...tif
  • In the days leading up to mating among whitespotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum), empty egg sacs like the one pictured here appear. These eggs sacs do not contained fertlized embryos. They are empty, and they are not old egg sacs from which juvenile sharks have already emerged. The appearance of these empty eggs sacs seems to coincide with heightened male shark activity, with ensuing courtship and copulation.
    whitespotted-bamboo-shark-empty-egg-...tif
  • This is a fertilized raft of hairy frogfish eggs (Antennarius striatus), floating in the water column a few minutes after a pair of the fish spawned.
    antennarius-striatus-hairy-frogfish-...tif
  • Close-up view of 3mm eggs of a hemiclonal hybrid sub-species. The female that spawned the eggs passed on her Hexagrammos octogrammus DNA while making use of a Hexagrammos otakii male to produce viable young. All the fish hatched from these eggs will be females that continue this process, in effect perpetuating a line of all-female fish that carry the same maternal DNA through each generation.
    hexagrammos-octogrammus-otakii-hemic...tif
  • Hermaphroditic sea hares (Aplysia sp.) engaging in copulation and egg-laying in shallow water, at a depth of about five meters
    sea-hares-laying-eggs-aplysia-japan-...tif
  • This is a male spotty-bellied greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus) watching over several clutches of developing eggs, which are situation just below the fish's left pectoral fin. Males of this species are tasked with caring for and protecting eggs.
    hexagrammos-agrammus-spotty-bellied-...tif
  • This is a female bivalve of indeterminate species engaged in broadcast spawning. The bivalve is embedded in the coral reef. The orange strands comprise thousands upon thousands of eggs. The fish eating the eggs is a Nagasaki damsel (Pomacentrus nagasakiensis).
    bivalve-broadcast-spawning-eggs-japa...tif
  • This is a female bivalve of indeterminate species engaged in broadcast spawning. The bivalve is embedded in the coral reef. The orange strands comprise thousands upon thousands of tiny eggs. There is a Nagasaki Damsel (Pomacentris nagasakiensis) in the background. It is rushing in to eat the eggs.
    bivalve-broadcast-spawning-eggs-japa...tif
  • This is a male spotty-bellied greenling (Hexagrammos agrammus) watching over several clutches of developing eggs, which are situation just below the fish's right pectoral fin. Males of this species are tasked with caring for and protecting eggs.
    hexagrammos-agrammus-spotty-bellied-...tif
  • This is an egg mass of a polychaete worm in the family Lumbrineridae. A large number of these appeared overnight one prior to full moon. The egg mass measures about 1.5cm.
    lumbrineridae-polychaete-worm-eggs-j...tif
  • This is an egg mass of a polychaete worm in the family Lumbrineridae. A large number of these appeared overnight one prior to full moon. The egg mass measures about 1.5cm.
    lumbrineridae-polychaete-worm-eggs-j...tif
  • Shown here are bivalve mollusks of indeterminate species engaged in broadcast spawning. A female is sending out orange eggs, while a male above is sending out clouds of sperm.
    bivalve-broadcast-spawning-eggs-sper...tif
  • Squat lobster in a crinoid, carrying a clutch of eggs, just visible under the crustacean's abdomen. There were many exceptionally large squat lobsters at Alexander's Wall, a dive site in the Eastern Fields of Papua New Guinea. This photograph is a film scan.
    elegant-squat-lobster-with-eggs-allo...tif
  • This is a male fat greenling (Hexagrammos otakii) opening his mouth, which is a behavior that many fish exhibit. This individual was watching over several clutches of developing eggs, which were situated behind the fish and thus obscured from view in this image. The brilliant yellow-orange hue is indicative of breeding season. These fish are normally drab in color.
    hexagrammos-otakii-fat-greenling-pro...tif
  • Developing eggs of a hairchin goby (Sagamia geneionema). Though still early in development, individual transparent fish embryos are visible attached to the yellow-orange yolk sacs.
    hairchin-goby-eggs-developing-embryo...tif
  • Like other cardinalfish, spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) are paternal mouthbrooders. When a pair of fish are ready to spawn, male and female align side-by-side. As the female pushes out a cluster of eggs, the male fertlizes them, then rapidly moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. Pictured here is the moment of transfer, with the male below the female, taking the cluster of fertilized eggs into his mouth. At 100% magnification, the eggs that are still inside the female and are just about to emerge are visible. Once the transfer of eggs is accomplished, the male will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approimately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting 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. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • Like other cardinalfish, spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) are paternal mouthbrooders. When a pair of fish are ready to spawn, male and female align side-by-side. As the female pushes out a cluster of eggs, the male fertlizes them, then rapidly moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. Once the transfer of eggs is accomplished, the male will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting 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, as pictured here. The male has just turned quickly to evade the female (visible in the background) and spit out his mouthful of eggs, sucking them back into his mouth in a fraction of a second. 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.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • Like other cardinalfish, spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) are paternal mouthbrooders. When a pair of fish are ready to spawn, male and female align side-by-side. As the female pushes out a cluster of eggs, the male fertlizes them, then rapidly moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. Once the transfer of eggs is accomplished, the male will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting 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, as pictured here. The male has just turned quickly to evade the female (visible in the background) and spit out his mouthful of eggs, sucking them back into his mouth in a fraction of a second. 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.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • Like other cardinalfish, spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) are paternal mouthbrooders. When a pair of fish are ready to spawn, male and female align side-by-side. As the female pushes out a cluster of eggs, the male fertlizes them, then rapidly moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. Pictured here is the moment of transfer, with the male below the female, taking the cluster of fertilized eggs into his mouth. At 100% magnification, wisps of sperm are visible just forward of the male’s eye. Once the transfer of eggs is accomplished, the male will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting 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. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • This is a pair of spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) engaged in spawning. The female on the right has just released a clutch of eggs, and the male is fertilizing them. Wisps of the male’s sperm are visible. both coming out of the male and around the eggs. After fertilization, the male moves behind the female to take the eggs into his mouth for brooding. He will care for the eggs until maturity. The gestation period varies with water temperature, but hatchout takes place after approximately two weeks. Females in this situation eventually leave the male, but they first exhibit an odd behavior after laying eggs. They appear to harass the male, chasing him and targeting 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. This occurs at blinding speed. The purpose of this post-coital behavior is not clear. It appears almost as if the female is attempting to steal the eggs from the male.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • 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.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • This is a female Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) engaged in broadcast spawning. The female is sending a stream of orange eggs into the water, with eggs being carried into the background by the current. The progression of eggs up the right spiral appendage is visible from this angle. Other polychaete worms of the same species were sending out gametes in synchrony. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • This is a female dragon moray eel (Enchelycore pardalis) spawning eggs. The male had already released a cloud of sperm and returned to the safety of coral. The female did the same as soon as she had finished releasing eggs. The entire process, from swimming up into the water column, releasing gametes and returning to coral was a second or less in duration. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    enchelycore-pardalis-dragon-moray-ee...tif
  • This is a female Lottia emydia limpet engaged in broadcast spawning, sending out a stream of red-orange eggs. The eggs have been pushed back toward the limpet and to the left by the prevailing current. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    lottia-emydia-limpet-spawning-japan-...tif
  • This is a close-up view of a female Radulinopsis derjavini sculpin, showing her specialized wide-mouth, which is used to aerate developing eggs by sucking water over and around them. This female had just finished hatching a clutch of eggs. Photographed at two times life-size magnification.
    radulinopsis-derjavini-sculpin-japan...tif
  • Shown here is spawning of Gymnothorax meleagris moray eels. The eels have just released a cloud of of eggs and sperm and are rushing back to the safety within the folds of Pavona decussata leaf coral. The entire process spanned less than a second. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    gymnothorax-meleagris-moray-eels-spa...tif
  • Male Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) like the darker squid on the right side of this image often approach females in the process of depositing eggs to pass on spermatophores. Pictured here is the moment the female has accepted spermatophores from the male. Spermatophores that she has previously received from other males are visible attached to her mantle.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-spermato...tif
  • This is a female Christmas tree worm (Spirobranchus giganteus) engaged in broadcast spawning. The female is sending a stream of orange eggs into the water. Other polychaete worms of the same species were sending out gametes in synchrony. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    spirobranchus-giganteus-christmas-tr...tif
  • This is a female Lottia emydia limpet sending a stream of eggs into the water during spawning. These sea snails aggregate in order to spawn en masse. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    lottia-emydia-limpet-spawning-japan-...tif
  • This is a cloud of crab larvae, just after release in shallow water by a female land crab (Discoplax hirtipes). At 100% magnification, the individual larva are easily distinguishable. See separate image of female crab in the act of releasing these eggs/ larvae into the water. Photographed at Ngeremdiu Beach, Ngeruktabel Island in Palau.
    crab-larvae-zoea-Discoplax-hirtipes-...tif
  • This is a female Lottia emydia limpet engaged in broadcast spawning, sending out a stream of red-orange eggs. The limpets in the foreground are likely males. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    lottia-emydia-limpet-spawning-japan-...tif
  • This is a colony of Lobophyllia corymbosa hard coral engaged in spawning. Hard corals like this release both eggs and sperm at the same time, as seen here.
    lobophyllia-corymbosa-hard-coral-spa...tif
  • This is a cluster of Lottia emydia limpets gathered for group spawning. One is just starting to lift itself up from the rock to spawn. Above these limpets is a cloud of eggs released by nearby female limpets. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    lottia-emydia-limpet-spawning-japan-...tif
  • This is a female Lottia emydia limpet sending a stream of eggs into the water during spawning. These sea snails aggregate in order to spawn en masse. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    lottia-emydia-limpet-spawning-japan-...tif
  • This is a female Lottia emydia limpet sending a stream of eggs into the water during spawning. These sea snails aggregate in order to spawn en masse. Photographed in Hokkaido, Japan.
    lottia-emydia-limpet-spawning-japan-...tif
  • Male Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) like the darker squid on the right side of this image often approach females in the process of depositing eggs to pass on spermatophores. Pictured here is the moment that this male has just offered the white strands of sperm. The female has indicated that she will accept. Spermatophores that she has previously received from other males are visible attached to her mantle.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-spermato...tif
  • Like other cardinalfish, spotnape cardinalfishes (Ostorhinchus notatus) are paternal mouthbrooders. When a pair of fish are ready to spawn, male and female align side-by-side as shown here. They repeat this behavior multiple times, until such time that the female is ready to push out a cluster of eggs. The female is in the foreground of this photo. Her swollen belly is clearly visible.
    ostorhinchus-notatus-spawning-spotna...tif
  • Close-up of a flamboyant cuttlefish egg (Metasepia pfefferi), with the developing juvenile attached to its yolk sac and visible inside the egg. Super macro photograph shot at 5x life-size.
    flamboyant-cuttlefish-egg-with-juven...tif
  • This is a female Pfeiffer's Top Shell (Tegula pfeifferi) engaged in broadcast spawning. Having positioned herself in an elevated spot and raised herself to vertical orientation, the shell forcefully ejected clusters of green eggs three to four times in a row. She then reloaded and repeated for two additional rounds.
    tegula-pfeifferi-top-shell-broadcast...tif
  • This is a female pin cushion star (Culcita novaeguineae) engaged in spawning. The starfish has climbed to the top of the reef to release eggs, visible as a cloud of tiny white dots surrounding the animal.
    culcita-novaeguineae-cushion-star-sp...tif
  • This is a cloud of crab larvae, just after release in shallow water by a female land crab (Discoplax hirtipes). At 100% magnification, the individual larva are easily distinguishable. See separate image of female crab in the act of releasing these eggs/ larvae into the water. Photographed at Ngeremdiu Beach, Ngeruktabel Island in Palau.
    crab-larvae-zoea-Discoplax-hirtipes-...tif
  • This is a pair of spotted moray eels (Gymnothorax meleagris) coming together within a colony of Pavona decussata coral just prior to spawning. The larger male is on the left. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    gymnothorax-meleagris-moray-eels-spa...tif
  • Japanese pygmy squids (Idiosepius paradoxus) possess an attachment organ under the dorsal surface of their mantle, which they use to secure themselves to seaweed such as this eelgrass. This individual is a female, as evidenced by her collection of elongated white spermatophores that have been provided by multiple males.
    idiosepius-paradoxus-female-with-spe...tif
  • This is a male copperstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus holotaenia) hatching a mouthful of eggs while swimming at high speed in erratic patterns. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    ostorhinchus-holotaenia-cardinalfish...tif
  • This is a male copperstriped cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus holotaenia) hatching a mouthful of eggs while swimming at high speed in erratic patterns. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    ostorhinchus-holotaenia-cardinalfish...tif
  • This is a female banded sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster coronata) tending to her eggs after spawning. With fertilization completed, the male has departed. The female remains for some time to clean and aerate the eggs that she has affixed to the substrate.
    canthigaster-coronata-banded-sharpno...tif
  • This is a pair of yellow pygmy gobies (Lubricogobius exiguus) sending juveniles into the world. They do this by gathering young into their mouths and spitting them out at random intervals. The female in the foreground has a bellyful of eggs prepared for the next batch of babies. Photographed in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.
    lubricogobius-exiguus-gobies-hatchin...tif
  • This is a female Radulinopsis taranetzi sculpin carrying a bellyful of fertilized eggs. She is in the process of choosing a place to deposit the eggs, which she will then cover with sand and rubble. Females of this species use their wide mouths to suck water over the eggs in order to aerate them and care for the eggs until they mature and hatch.
    radulinopsis-taranetzi-sculpin-pregn...tif
  • 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.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...tif
  • 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.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...tif
  • This is a male red-spotted blenny (Blenniella chrysospilos) fertilizing eggs. The female is in the burrow beneath him and has deposited eggs. Once the male finishes, he goes to another hole and waits for the female to deposit more eggs before coming back to fertilize again. After repeating this process multiple times, the female departs and leaves the male to care for the developing young.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...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 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 is a Stichaeus grigorjewi, sometimes called a long shanny or northern blenny. It is a deepwater species that resides down to depths of around 300 meters in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk. Females come up to shallower water to lay eggs. This fish is edible, but the eggs contain a toxin called dinogunellin, which can cause vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other unpleasant symptoms if ingested. There are no recorded cases of deaths from consumption of eggs. As pictured here, the fish repeatedly extended and retracted a long, twisted, multi-pronged tongue-like appendage reminiscent of the lure used by stargazers (Uranoscopidae) to attract prey.
    stichaeus-grigorjewi-long-shanny-nor...tif
  • This is a Stichaeus grigorjewi, sometimes called a long shanny or northern blenny. It is a deepwater species that resides down to depths of around 300 meters in the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk. Females come up to shallower water to lay eggs. This fish is edible, but the eggs contain a toxin called dinogunellin, which can cause vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other unpleasant symptoms if ingested. There are no recorded cases of deaths from consumption of eggs. As pictured here, the fish repeatedly extended and retracted a long, twisted, multi-pronged tongue-like appendage reminiscent of the lure used by stargazers (Uranoscopidae) to attract prey.
    stichaeus-grigorjewi-long-shanny-nor...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of spotty blennies (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) engaged in spawning. Poking out from the burrow is the female. She has just deposited eggs inside. The male then lowers himself into the burrow to fertilize the eggs. This process repeats several times, after which the female departs abruptly. The male is tasked with caring for the eggs and launching them into the world when they are ready.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of red-spotted blennies (Blenniella chrysospilos). The dark male was actually fertilizing eggs in the burrow beneath him. There was already a female in the burrow. While that female was depositing eggs, the male maintained this dark courtship coloration and displayed for the female seen here. The male was successful in getting the attention of this female, as evidenced by her visit to his burrow, but he was unable to accommodate her at the time documented here. It is possible that this female returned later, once the other female had finished depositing eggs.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • These are chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) swimming in a shallow river in Hokkaido, Japan. The fish are preparing to spawn after spending one to three years at sea. The individual in the foreground is female, the larger two in the background males. Females dig shallow nests at the edges of waterflow to deposit eggs, which are fertillized by a partner male, sometimes multiple males. The female covers fertilized eggs with gravel.
    oncorhynchus-keta-chum-salmon-spawni...tif
  • This is a pair of Radulinopsis taranetzi sculpins copulating, with the male on top. Internal fertilization takes place in this species, with the female depositing her clutch of eggs after choosing a suitable location, then covering them with sand and rubble. Females of this species use their wide mouths to suck water over the eggs in order to aerate them.
    radulinopsis-taranetzi-sculpins-copu...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of spotty blennies (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) engaged in spawning. When a female has finished depositing eggs, as pictured here, the male wants her to leave immediately. He hovers, prods, even strikes the female to force her out. He then takes responsibility for the eggs, but also continues to court other females in order to spawn again.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • Pictured here is a pair of red-spotted blennies (Blenniella chrysospilos) that have just finished spawning. After attracting the female (foreground) to his burrow, the male moves to another hole while the female deposits eggs. He visits multiple times to fertilize while she does this. This is the spit-second just before the female departs and the male takes over to brood the eggs. The male's dark hue is breeding coloration.
    blenniella-chrysospilos-red-spotted-...tif
  • Depicted here is spawning of grass puffers (Takifugu niphobles), a small species of pufferfish native to the northwest Pacific. The female in the foreground has just released yellow eggs. The male in the background is fertilizing the eggs. This species has the unusual habit of spawning on land during high tide at certain times of the year, as shown here.
    takifugu-niphobles-grass-puffer-spaw...tif
  • Depicted here is spawning of grass puffers (Takifugu niphobles), a small species of pufferfish native to the northwest Pacific. The large female on the right has released eggs and a male has fertilized. There is a smaller male visible trying to flip into position to fertilize as well. This species has the unusual habit of spawning on land. At certain times of the year, large numbers in shallow water at high tide. When larger females beach themselves to lay eggs, males follow to fertilize. The fish rely on waves to take them ashore and return them to the ocean. This is the only puffer species known to do this.
    takifugu-niphobles-grass-puffer-spaw...tif
  • This is a male hairy frogfish (Antennarius striatus) exhibiting the characteristic lump resulting from infection by the parasitic copepod Sarcotaces pacificus. A maggot-shaped female resides inside the lump, where she lays thousands of eggs. The eggs hatch within the lump and pass through five nauplius development stages before reaching their first copepodid stage, at which point the juvenile parasites are able to infect new hosts.
    antennarius-striatus-striated-frogfi...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
  • Malcolm was our cook during the kayak expedition. Here he is holding a large male land crab (Discoplax hirtipes) at our second campsite, which was at Ngeremdiu Beach. Malcolm told me that female crabs migrate from land to the water to release their brood at the turning of the high tide during full moon. We saw a few females releasing eggs here at Ngeremdiu Beach, and also at the next campsite on Ngchuus Beach. See separate photos of female crab releasing eggs, and of the resulting zoea.
    terrestrial-crab-discoplax-hirtipes-...tif
  • This is a pair of Radulinopsis taranetzi sculpins preparing to copulate, with the male on top. Internal fertilization takes place in this species, with the female depositing her clutch of eggs after choosing a suitable location, then covering them with sand and rubble. Females of this species use their wide mouths to suck water over the eggs in order to aerate them.
    radulinopsis-taranetzi-sculpins-copu...tif
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