Abstract
The gobiid fish, Trimma caudomaculatum, lives in groups. We investigated group structure, mating system and bidirectional sex change of this species. Four groups examined contained more than two males. The males were significantly larger than the females. By the observations in aquarium, the males occupied a nest and the females visited the nest for spawning. While there was no specific pair bond, the males mated with multiple females. Hence, this species establishes multi-male groups. In the experiments, four larger females had changed sex to male among 25 females. The smallest male changed to female in the group of four males.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cole KS (1990) Patterns of gonad structure in hermaphroditic gobies (Teleostei: Gobiidae). Environ Biol Fish 28:125–142
Fricke HW (1980) Control of different mating systems in a coral reef fish by one environmental factor. Anim Behav 28:561–569
Fricke HW, Fricke S (1977) Monogamy and sex change by aggressive dominance in coral reef fish. Nature 266:830-832
Fukuda K, Manabe H, Sakurai M, Dewa S, Shinomiya A, Sunobe T (2017a) Monogamous mating system and sexuality in the gobiid fish, Trimma marinae (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae). J Ethol 35:121–130
Fukuda K, Tanazawa T, Sunobe T (2017b) Polygynous mating system and field evidence for bidirectional sex change in the gobiid fish Trimma grammistes. Inter J Pure Appl Zool 5:92–99
Ghiselin MT (1969) The evolution of hermaphroditism among animals. Quart Rev Biol 44:189–208
Godwin J (1995) Phylogenetic and habitat influences on mating system structure in the humbug damselfishes (Dascyllus, Pomacentridae). Bull Mar Sci 57: 637–652
Kadota T, Osato J, Nagata K, Sakai Y (2012) Reversed sex change in the haremic protogynous hawkfish Cirrhitichthys falco in natural conditions. Ethology 118:226–234
Kuwamura T, Suzuki S, Kadota T (2016) Male-to-female sex change in widowed males of the protogynous damselfish Dascyllus aruanus. J Ethol 34:85–88
Manabe H, Ishimura M, Shinomiya A, Sunobe T (2007) Field evidence for bi-directional sex change in the polygynous gobiid fish Trimma okinawae. J Fish Biol 70:600–609
Moyer JT (1984) Reproductive behavior and social organization of the pomacanthid fish Genicanthus lamarck at Mactan, Island, Philippines. Copeia 1984:194–200
Moyer JT, Nakazoko A (1978) Population structure, reproductive behavior and protogynous hermaphroditism in the angelfish Centropyge interruptus at Miyake-jima, Japan. Japan J Ichthyol 25:25–39
Nakashima Y, Sakai Y, Karino K, Kuwamura T (2000) Female-female spawning and sex change in a haremic coral-reef fish, Labroides dimidiatus. Zool Sci 17:967–970
Saeki T, Sakai Y, Gushima K (2005) Foraging behavior and diet composition of Trimma caudomaculata and Trimma caesiura (Gobiidae) on coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan. Ichthyol Res 52:302–305
Shapiro DY (1979) Social behavior group structure, and the control of sex reversal in hermaphroditic fish. Adv Stud Behav 10:43–102
Shapiro DY (1981) Size, maturation and the social control of sex reversal in the coral reef fish Anthias squamipinnis. J Zool Lond 193:105–128
Shapiro DY, Lubbock R (1980) Group sex ratio and sex reversal. J Theor Biol 82:411–426
Sunobe T, Nakazono A (1990) Polygynous mating system of Trimma okinawae (Pisces: Gobiidae) at Kagoshima, Japan with a note on sex change. Ethology 84:133–143
Sunobe T, Sado T, Hagiwara K, Manabe H, Suzuki T, Kobayashi Y, Sakurai M, Dewa S-I, Matsuoka M, Shinomiya A, Fukuda K, Miya M (2017) Evolution of bidirectional sex change and gonochorism in fishes of the gobiid genera Trimma, Priolepis, and Trimmatom. Sci Nat 104:15 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-017-1434-z
Tomatsu S (2014) Studies on mating system and analysis of genes of neural lobe hormones in two species of Trimma (Gobiidae). Master’s thesis in Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology
Warner RR (1975) The adaptive significance of sequential hermaphroditism in animals. Amer Nat 109:61–82
Winterbottom R (2017) Two new species of Trimma (Pisces; Gobiidae) from Fiji, south-western Pacific Ocean. Zootaxa 4269:559–570
Yogo Y. (1985) Studies on the sexual maturation and reproductive ecology in three protogynous fishes. Rep Fish Res Lab Kyushu Univ 7:37–83
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Yamada T, Yamamoto A and Iwata S for their assistance throughout the study. This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants to Sunobe T (nos. 19570016, 24370006, and 16K07507) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
About this article
Cite this article
Tomatsu, S., Ogiso, K., Fukuda, K. et al. Multi-male group and bidirectional sex change in the gobiid fish, Trimma caudomaculatum. Ichthyol Res 65, 502–506 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-018-0631-x
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-018-0631-x