Main Ref. | Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen, 1966 |
Mode | dioecism |
Fertilization | internal (oviduct) |
Mating type | monogamy: |
Spawning frequency | one clear seasonal peak per year |
Spawning aggregation | Ref. |
Batch spawner | Yes. Ref. |
Reproductive guild |
nonguarders open water/substratum egg scatterers |
Parental Care | none |
Description of life cycle and mating behavior | Oviparous. Distinct pairing with embrace (Ref. 205). Undergoes yearly migrations to breeding sites. Females lay about 10 to 16 (commonly 10-12) eggs in rock crevices on shallow sheltered reefs at depths of 1-5 m (rarely 20-30 m) during August and September (rarely in July and October). In captivity, females lay 2 eggs a day every 8-17 days. Eggs are hatched after 9-12 months and young then move into nursery areas in bays and estuaries. After the breeding season, males move into deeper waters followed by the females in late September or October. |
Search for more references on reproduction | Scirus |