Annual Reproductive Cycle and Mating Rehavior of the Japanese Surfperch, Neoditrema ransonneti(Embiotocidae).

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Other Title
  • オキタナゴの交尾生態
  • オキタナゴ ノ コウビ セイタイ

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Annual reproductive cycle, sexual dimorphism and mating behavior of the viviparous embiotocidNeoditrema ransonnetiwere studied. Both histological evidence of maturity of testis and behavioral evidence of courtship and mating behavior showed that mating occurred in autumn. At this time, although oocytes were immature, sperm was found in the ovarian cavity. Pregnant females gave birth to young from April to June.<BR>At the mating season, besides the copulatory organ on the anal fin, males also displayed sexual dimorphism in body color, caudal fin morphology, and serrations in dentary and premaxirally. During the mating season, males maintain territories. On the other hand, females swim around the territories. When they invade these territories, they are courted by the male. Following courtship, copulation took place in the mid water column or near the bottom. Two size groups of older (over than one year) and YOY (young of the year=yearling) groups were recognizable. Competitive behavior was observed between males of two size groups. Mating behavior (size assortative mating) differed strikingly between them. The older males only courted females of their own size group. The YOY male, however, courted both YOY and older females in proportion to their abundance. Furthermore, YOY males rushed toward a pair of the older male and female, and tried to copulate to the older female (streaking-like behavior) .

Journal

  • Aquaculture Science

    Aquaculture Science 44 (4), 395-405, 1996

    Japanese Society for Aquaculture Science

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