Main Ref. | Morrow, J.E., 1980 |
Mode | dioecism |
Fertilization | external |
Mating type | promiscuity |
Spawning frequency | one clear seasonal peak per year |
Spawning aggregation | Ref. |
Batch spawner | Yes. Ref. Morrow, J.E., 1980 |
Reproductive guild |
nonguarders brood hiders |
Parental Care | none |
Description of life cycle and mating behavior | Males are generally territorial but when females start showing spawning behavior, males pair up with females and lose interest in their territories. Spawning takes place at almost any time of the day. A female invades a males territory and finds a suitable spot for a redd. Once a spot has been selected, she starts digging. While the female is digging, the male courts her by circling around her and then gliding along her side and quivering. When the redd is completed, the pair release egg and sperm. The pair then swim forward out of the nest, often still ejecting sex products. This may be repeated up to 5 times before the female begins to cover the eggs. The female then digs at the edge of the pit, covering the eggs and beginning the next redd (Ref. 27547). Males often mate with more than one female, taking the second mate after the first has exhausted the eggs. Sometimes, a female will mate successively with two or more males (Ref. 28968, 28969). Several days are usually required for females to deposit all their eggs (Ref. 27547). |
Search for more references on reproduction | Scirus |