Spawning behavior of
shira-uo Salangichthys microdon in captivity
M. Yamaguchi, T. Fujioka, T. Saruwatari, M.
Omori-2004
Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi, 70(5): 693-698
Abstract:
Video recordings of the behavior of 50 adult shira-uo
Salangichthys microdon in an aquarium were analyzed to reveal their
spawning behavior. Shira-uo showed unique spawning behavior that a pair
shake their bodies, with the male sticking his gonopore into the female's
one using the anal fin scales as a sucker. The mating behavior was that a
female descended from the usual circular swimming in the upper layer to the
bottom layer, males checking each other there crowded around the female and
exchanged body charges to compete for the female, and a pair formed as a
result of the male-male competition. The paired female led the male upward,
and they spawned and ejaculated. However the pair did not always succeed in
spawning and ejaculation and the low success rate may be due to the female's
choice of mate. Furthermore, it was suggested that the female repeatedly
spawned a small number of eggs with every spawning success by reiterating
the process of mating.
(Hokkaido Central Fisheries Experimental Station,
Yoichi, Hokkaido 046-8555, Japan)