Courtship behavior and spawning of the hairy blenny Labrisomus nuchipinnis (Labrisomidae) in southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Labrisomus nuchipinnis is a diurnal bottom-dwelling sit-and-wait carnivorous fish that inhabits holes and rifts of rocky areas in tropical shallow waters. Here we report on the courtship behavior and spawning of this hairy blenny in southeastern Brazil, with a detailed description and comparison with other Blennioidei. Labrisomus nuchipinnis is a territorial species that was observed courting with more than one female, and presenting a well defined pattern cycle related to reproductive behavior and paternal egg care. Adhesive demersal eggs are laid on small algae-covered rocks at sites with increased current velocity within the male's territory, which may enable higher egg survivorship and shorter developmental time.Labrisomus nuchipinnis é um peixe bentônico e carnívoro de hábitos diurnos, que espreita suas presas e que habita tocas e frestas de ambientes rochosos em águas rasas tropicais. Registramos o comportamento de corte e desova deste amborê no sudeste do Brasil, descrevendo-o em detalhe e comparando-o com os de outros Blennioidei. Labrisomus nuchipinnis é uma espécie territorial que foi observada em corte com mais de uma fêmea, apresentando uma seqüência cíclica padrão relacionada ao comportamento reprodutivo, e cuidado paternal para com os ovos. Os ovos demersais adesivos são depositados em pequenas rochas cobertas por algas, em locais de elevada hidrodinâmica, localizados dentro do território do macho, o que deve proporcionar uma maior taxa de sobrevivência dos filhotes e menor tempo de desenvolvimento dos embriões.

Life history traits of the sand stargazerDactyloscopus tridigitatus(Teleostei: Blennioidei) from south-eastern Brazilian coast

“…In contrast, female D. tridigitatus fecundity was positively correlated to TL, which indicates that larger females are able to produce more eggs. The vitellogenic oocyte diameter of about 1 mm recorded in mature ovaries of D. tridigitatus females is similar to other dactyloscopids (Watson, 1996) and also to the blenny Labrisomus nuchipinnis (Gibran et al, 2004).…”

“…The finding of Dactyloscopus tridigitatus buried in the sand of the intertidal portion protected by rocky reefs is likely related to the fact that sheltered environments serve as refuge from predators for many blennioid fish (Hastings, 1991;Gonçalves & Almada, 1997), and are also useful for reproductive behaviour during the breeding season (Hastings, 2002;Gibran et al, 2004).…”

“…In fact, sex-role reversal can occur in some blenniids in which the number of reproductive females overlaps the number of mature males during the breeding season (Ahnesjö et al, 2001;Shibata & Kohda, 2006;Saraiva et al, 2009). Polygamy and promiscuity are described for some blennies that display a complex reproductive behaviour (Gonçalves & Almada, 1997;Gibran et al, 2004;Saraiva et al, 2009). Perhaps this breeding pattern of blennies can explain the two egg masses carried by D. tridigitatus males, which suggests that males mate with more than one female.…”

Feeding association between reef fishes and the fire coral Millepora spp. (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa)

“…These animals may stay near to the branching coral or even live among its branches, probably due to the proximity to their food items, which can be the coral or epibionts (see Ciardelli, 1967;Rotjan & Lewis, 2008). Moreover, other organisms may associate with branching corals during breeding or for shelter and protection against predators (Munday et al, 1997;Gibran et al, 2004).…”

The fitness of the Brazilian damsel Stegastes fuscus is increased by sharing the territory with the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus

“…Hippocampus erectus, Dias et al 2002), choosing a safer spawning site (e.g. Labrisomus nuchipinnis, Gibran et al 2004) or defending a territory like the damselfish Stegastes leucostictus (Itzkowitz et al 1995), as well as its co-generic S. fuscus.…”