Synopsis
Spawning by the banded butterflyfish, Chaetodon multicinctus (Chaetodontidae) was observed on coral reefs off Kona, Hawaii. These fish occurred in male-female pairs during normal daytime activities, a behavior which is typical for the family. Courtship is also a paired male-female activity. During spawning, however, other individuals (males?) may intrude on the spawning pair. Spawning typically takes place at least a meter or two above the bottom. The spawning position consists of the male below and behind the female with his snout against the female’s ventral flank or anal fin area. Intruding individuals may join in when the pair is in position and about to spawn. Intruders line-up against the male in the same position as he is against his female. Underwater photographs are included to illustrate these behaviors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Driscoll, J.W. & J.L. Driscoll. 1988. Pair behavior and spacing in butterflyfishes (Chaetodontidae). Env. Biol. Fish. 22: 29–37.
Gross, M.R. 1984. Sunfish, salmon, and the evolution of alternative reproductive strategies and tactics in fishes, pp. 55–76. In: G.W. Potts & R.J. Wootton (ed.) Fish Reproduction Strategies and Tactics, Academic Press, New York.
Hobson, E.S. 1974. Feeding relationships of teleostean fishes on coral reefs in Kona, Hawaii. U.S. Fish. Bull. 72: 915–1031.
Keenleyside, M.H.A. 1979. Diversity and adaptation in fish behavior. Springer-Verlag, New York. 208 pp.
Lobel, P.S. 1978. Diel, lunar and seasonal periodicity in the reproductive behavior of the pomacanthid fish, Centropyge potteri, and some other reef fishes in Hawaii. Pac. Sci. 32: 193–207.
Lobel, P.S. 1989. Ocean current variability and the spawning season of Hawaiian reef fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 24: 161–171.
Neudecker, S. & P.S. Lobel. 1982. Mating systems of chaeto-dontid and pomacanthid fishes at St. Croix. Z. Tierpsychol. 59: 299–318.
Randall, J.E., P.S. Lobel & E.H. Chave. 1985. Annotated checklist of the fishes of Johnston Isl and. Pac. Sci. 39: 24–80.
Reese, E. S. 1975. A comparative field study of the social behavior and related ecology of reef fishes of the family Chaetodontidae. Z. Tierpsychol. 37: 37–61.
Robertson, D.R. 1983. On the spawning behavior and spawning cycles of eight surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) from the Indo-Pacific. Env. Biol. Fish. 9: 193–223.
Robertson, D.R. & R.R. Warner. 1978. Sexual patterns of the labroid fishes of the western Caribbean, II. The parrotfishes (Scaridae). Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 255: 1–26.
Susuki, K., Y. Tanaka & S. Hioki. 1980. Spawning behavior, eggs and larvae of the butterflyfish, Chaetodon nippon in an aquarium. Jap. J. Ichthyol. 26: 334–341.
Thresher, R.E. 1984. Reproduction in reel fishes. T.F.H. Publ., Neptune City. 399 pp.
Tricas, T.C. 1985. The economics of foraging in coral-feeding butterflyfishes of Hawaii. Proc. Fifth Internat. Coral Reef. Symp. 5: 409–414.
Tricas, T.C. & J.T. Hiramoto. 1989. Sexual differentiation, gonad development, and spawning seasonality of the Hawaiian butterflyfish, Chaetodon multicinctus. Env. Biol. Fish. 25: 111–124.
Trivers, R.L. 1972. Parental investment and sexual selection, pp. 136–179. In: B. Capbell (ed.) Sexual Selection and the Descent of Man 1871–1971, Aldine, Chicago.
Walsh, W.J. 1987. Patterns of recruitment and spawning in Hawaiian reef fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 18: 257–276.
Warner, R.R. & D.R. Robertson. 1978. Sexual patterns in the labroid fishes of the western Caribbean, I. The wrasses (Labridae). Smithsonian Contrib. Zool. 254: 1–27.
Warner, R.R. & S. Hoffman. 1980. Local population size as a determinant of mating system and sexual composition in two tropical marine fishes (Thalassoma spp.). Evolution 34: 508–518.
Warner, R.R., D.R. Robertson & E.G. Leigh, Jr. 1975. Sex change and sexual selection. Science 190: 633–638.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Lobel, P.S. (1989). Spawning behavior of Chaetodon multicinctus (Chaetodontidae); pairs and intruders. In: Motta, P.J. (eds) The butterflyfishes: success on the coral reef. Developments in environmental biology of fishes, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2325-6_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2325-6_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7545-9
Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2325-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive