| Main Ref. | Thresher, R.E., 1984 |
| Mode | dioecism |
| Fertilization | external |
| Mating type | |
| Spawning frequency | |
| Spawning aggregation | Ref. |
| Batch spawner | Ref. |
| Reproductive guild |
nonguarders open water/substratum egg scatterers |
| Parental Care | none |
| Description of life cycle and mating behavior | Spawning begins early in the morning. From variable colonies in a reef, each eel occupies a burrow it has dug, reaching into the water column to pick out the plankton for food. Prior to spawning, the male and female move their burrows close together; whether the male or the female moves is not known. The male then defends the female from other males, and prolonged and vigorous inter-male combat is common. On the day of spawning, the male extends out of his burrow toward the female. Both spread their dorsdal fins broadly and the male rubs his head over the female's body. If not ready, the female withdraws into her burrow; if ready, she extends toward the male and wraps her body once or twice around his, bringing her urogenital opening close to his. The pair remains in this position until spawning occurs, which may take up to nine hours or more. |
| Search for more references on reproduction | Scirus |