Main Ref. | Morrow, J.E., 1980 |
Mode | dioecism |
Fertilization | internal (oviduct) |
Mating type | |
Spawning frequency | one clear seasonal peak per year |
Spawning aggregation | Ref. |
Batch spawner | Ref. |
Reproductive guild |
bearers internal live bearers |
Parental Care | maternal |
Description of life cycle and mating behavior | Viviparous. Mating is preceded by courtship. The male moves slowly toward the female, who retreats. Her flight stimulates pursuit by up to 10 males. During the pursuit, males attempt to bring their anal regions in contact with that of the female. One male heads off the female, urging her away from the group of males and also driving them away. The female is conducted to the shelter of a rock or other object, where the courtship dance begins. In this dance, the male, with dorsal fin fully erect, swims by means of his pectoral fin in a figure eight pattern over the female, udulating in both the horizontal and vertical planes. The male then stops, faces the female head to head, quivers, then moves his jaws and undulates his dorsal fin. He then moves beside the female, facing in the same direction, and repeats the movements. Finally, the male tilts on his side, the female tilts slightly away from hin, and the anal regions are brought in contact with each other. Copulation lasts less than a second. Gestation takes five to six months. Bears 3 to 36 young. Female carries the developing young (Ref. 205). Males are mature and ripe at birth. Juvenile females are mated soon after being born (Ref. 27547). |
Search for more references on reproduction | Scirus |