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  • This is a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) sending babies into the world. Females of this species deposit eggs into the burrows of males, which fertilize and care for the developing young. When juveniles are mature, the males take the young fish into their mouths, dart out of their burrows and spit the babies into the water, sometimes one at a time, sometimes several at once. The action is rapid, the direction and timing of launching babies unpredictable. When the males send the babies out like this, their bodies usually lose the bright coloration of breeding season, becoming relatively drab, though not quite as dull as normal.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) sending one of his babies into the world. Females of this species deposit eggs into the burrows of males, which fertilize and care for the developing young. When juveniles are mature, the males take the young fish into their mouths, dart out of their burrows and spit the babies into the water, sometimes one at a time, sometimes several at once. The action is rapid, the direction and timing of launching babies unpredictable. When the males send the babies out like this, their bodies usually lose the bright coloration of breeding season, becoming relatively drab, though not quite as dull as normal.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is looking out from his home in the coral reef during breeding season. He is searching for females that are ready to spawn. Normally dull and drab in color, this male had donned a bright yellow, blue and orange pattern for this purpose. When a female approaches, he performs an elaborate, somewhat comical dance to entice her.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • Normally pale in color, this male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is displaying the bright colors and patterns used to court females during breeding season. Adopting this characteristic yellow, blue and orange pattern, males perform a dance in front of their burrows. Interested females enter the burrow to deposit eggs.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a humpbacked scorpionfish (Scorpaenopsis neglecta) sitting on a muddy bottom in shallow water, with a number of Japanese silver-biddy fishes (Gerres equulus) swimming past in the background.
    scorpaenopsis-neglecta-humpbacked-sc...tif
  • This is a starry goby (Asterropteryx semipunctata), about 5cm in length. This species is found in shallow areas such as tide pools and protected bays.
    asterropteryx-semipunctata-starry-go...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a male Leiaster leachi sea star broadcasting sperm into the water during spawning time. Other nearby sea stars were broadcasting sperm and eggs into the water in synchrony. This individual was between 40cm and 45cm in diameter. Winner of Underwater category of the 2022 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest #WPY58.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is what a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) looks like during spawning. The female is inside the burrow depositing eggs. The male had lowered himself partially into the burrow to fertilize the eggs. The male's fins flare and his movements are agitated during this process.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...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
  • Depicted here is spawning of a leaf coral (Pavona decussata) formation. Spawning was synchronized over a large area with many coral colonies.
    pavona-decussata-leaf-coral-spawning...tif
  • This a male spotty goby's (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) normal drab appearance, without the brilliant yellow, blue and orange colors associated with courtship and spawning. This dull appearance and pattern help the fish to blend into the reef when it leaves its burrow to look for food, as pictured here.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • Normally pale in color, this male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is displaying the characteristic yellow, blue and orange colors and patterns used to court females during breeding season. When an interested female comes close, he will perform a dance in front of his burrow to entice her to deposit eggs inside.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • These spotty blennies (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) have just finished spawning. The female has emerged from the male's burrow after depositing all of her eggs. At this juncture, the male was attempting to kick the female out by hovering, prodding and even hitting her. The sooner he could force her to depart, the sooner the male could court other females and spawn again.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a large Mauve-eyed hermit crab (Dardanus crassimanus) consuming a red cornetfish (Fistularia petimba).
    dardanus-crassimanus-consuming-fistu...tif
  • Close-up view of a male Leiaster leachi starfish extruding sperm from one of its arms whille engaged in spawning.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • Normally pale in color, this male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny is displaying the bright colors and patterns used to court females during breeding season. Adopting this characteristic yellow, blue and orange pattern, males perform a dance in front of their burrows. Interested females enter the burrow to deposit eggs.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) darting out from his burrow in order to send one of his babies into the water. The juvenile fish's eyes are visible inside the adult's mouth. Males of this species care for developing young. When the juveniles are ready, males collect them in their mouths, swim out at high speed and spit the fry into the water.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a top-down view from the dorsal side of a male spotty blenny (Laiphognathus multimaculatus). This male was looking out from his burrow in the early morning, searching for females to court during the breeding season. From this perspective, the fish's ability to control each eye in an independent manner is apparent.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...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
  • This is a colony of Pavona decussata leaf coral, photographed one day prior to spawning.
    pavona-decussata-leaf-coral-japan-20...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 large male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a male Leiaster leachi starfish engaged in spawning, releasing streams of sperm into the water. Spawning is tandem with other nearby individuals, synchronized by tide time and flow. This starfish was between 40cm and 45cm in size.
    leiaster-leachi-sea-star-spawning-ja...tif
  • This is a mature Japanese sea bass (Lateolabrax japonicus) measuring about 60cm. It was patrolling a shallow reef area at night in search of food. Found in the western Pacific, this species is catadromous. These fish are protandrous hermaphrodites.
    lateolabrax-japonicus-japanese-sea-b...tif
  • This is a male Laiphognathus multimaculatus Spotty Blenny displaying bright yellow, orange and blue colors and patterns used to court females during breeding season. Males perform a dance in front of their burrows. Interested females enter the burrow to deposit eggs.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is the moment when a male spotty goby (Laiphognathus multimaculatus) sent one of his babies into the world. Females of this species deposit eggs into the burrows of males, which fertilize and care for the developing young. When juveniles are mature, the males take the young fish into their mouths, dart out of their burrows and spit the babies into the water, sometimes one at a time, sometimes several at once. The action is rapid, the direction and timing of launching babies unpredictable. Such behavior is perhaps necessary to minimize predation. This male was about 4cm in length.
    laiphognathus-multimaculatus-spotty-...tif
  • This is a male Salarias luctuosus combtooth blenny, a species that is found in shallow waters throughout a limited range in Japan, from Wakayama prefecture down through the Ryukyu islands. This male is displaying breeding coloration. It was competing with another male to attract the attention of a nearby female.
    salarias-luctuosus-combtooth-blenny-...tif
  • Depicted here is a female crowned puffer (Canthigaster coronata) above her clutch of yellow eggs immediately after spawning with the departing male. The female spent over an hour searching for the perfect spot before choosing and preparing this place for her eggs.
    canthigaster-coronata-spawning-crown...tif
  • This is a male sabretooth blenny (Petroscirtes breviceps) peeking out from the inside of a hollow log that it was using as a home. The sparkling gold-yellow dots lining the wall are developing eggs. Males of this species are responsible for caring for eggs until they hatch.
    petroscirtes-breviceps-blenny-protec...tif
  • This is a male Korean seashorse (Hippocampus haema) giving birth. This birth took place at the very end of the reproductive season. As such, this male carried only about 25 young. The number of juveniles that pregnant males carry declines through the season, because the number of eggs produced and passed to males by females drops over time.
    hippocampus-haema-korean-seahorse-ma...tif
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