Synopsis
The status of knowledge of spawning among the five shallow waterChaetodon species in the western Atlantic is reviewed. Spawning has been observed for three species in Puerto Rico, St. Croix and the Bahamas, with possible courtship in a fourth.Chaetodon aculeatus spawned near the time of sunset over objects on the reef as single female/male pairs or as two females and one male, with pair spawning in rapid succession. Spawning occurred during much of the lunar month from February to April and it is uncertain whether any lunar periodicity to spawning exists. Male-male aggression was noted. Spawning sites (coral heads) were alternated daily and it is likely that females spawn only once every two days. A single female produced as many as 2090 eggs in a single spawning.Chaetodon capistratus spawned during much of the lunar month from February to April. It spawned about 5 min afterC. aculeatus, occasionally using the same sites, and alternated sites daily. A female produced as many as 3710 eggs in one spawning.Chaetodon striatus spawned from February to April but it is unknown if it has any lunar spawning cycle. No predation attempts by piscivores on spawning adults were seen. Predation byMelichthys niger on eggs ofC. striatus occurred. No egg predation was observed forC. aculeatus andC. capistratus. With an assumed four month reproductive season, alternate day spawning and observed egg production values,C. aculeatus andC. capistratus produce respectively about 100 000 and 200 000 eggs per large female per year. The reproductive strategy of smaller species may be to produce moderate numbers of eggs per day over a spawning season of at least a few months while larger species may produce more eggs per day for a shorter period.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Aiken, K. 1983. The biology, ecology and bionomics of the butterfly and angelfishes, Chaetodontidae. pp. 155–165. In: J.L. Munro (ed.) Caribbean Coral Reef Fishery Resources, Inter. Cent. Living Aquatic Resour. Manag. Stud. and Rev. No. 7, ICLARM, Manila
Allen, G.R. 1979. Butterflyfishes and angelfishes of the world. Vol. 2. Wiley-Interscience Publ., New York. 352 pp
Bauer, J.A., Jr. & S.E. Bauer. 1981. Reproductive biology of pigmy angelfishes of the genus Centropyge (Pomacanthidae). Bull. Mar. Sci. 31: 495–513
Burgess, W.E. 1978. Butterflyfishes of the world. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 832 pp
Clavijo, I.E. 1985. A probable hybrid butterflyfish from the western Atlantic. Copeia 1985: 235–238
Colin, P.L. & I.E. Clavijo. 1988. Spawning activity of fishes producing pelagic eggs on a shelf edge coral reef, southwestern Puerto Rico. Bull. Mar. Sci. 43: 249–279
Fishelson, L., L.W. Montgomery & A.A. Myrberg, Jr. 1987. Biology of surgeonfish Acanthurus nigrofuscus with emphasis on changeover in diet and annual gonadal cycles. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 39: 37–47
Fricke, H.A. 1986. Pair swimming and mutual partner guarding in monogamous butterflyfish (Pisces, Chaetodontidae): a joint advertisement for territory. Ethology 73: 307–333
Gore, M.A. 1982. The effect of a flexible spacing system on the social organization of a coral reef fish, Chaetodon capistratus. Behaviour 85: 118–145
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
Moe, M.A., Jr. 1976. Rearing Atlantic angelfish. Mar. Aquar. 7: 17–26
Munro, J.L., V.C. Gaut, R. Thompson & P.H. Reeson. 1973. The spawning seasons of Caribbean reef fishes. J. Fish Biol. 5: 69–84
Neudecker, S. & P.S. Lobel. 1982. Mating systems of chaetodontid and pomacanthid fishes at St. Croix. Z. Tierpsychol. 59: 299–318
Ralston, S. 1981. Aspects of the reproductive biology and feeding ecology of Chaetodon miliaris, a Hawaiian endemic butterflyfish. Env. Biol. Fish. 6: 167–176
Robins, C.R. & G.C. Ray. 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Miflin Co., Boston. 354 pp
Thresher, R.E. 1984. Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 399 pp
Tricas, T.C. 1986. Life history, foraging ecology, and territorial behavior of the Hawaiian butterflyfish, Chaetodon multicinctus. Ph.D Dissertation, University of Hawaii, Honolulu. 248 pp
Walsh, W.J. 1987. Patterns of recruitment and spawning in Hawaiian reef fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 18: 257–276
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Colin, P.L. Aspects of the spawning of western Atlantic butterflyfishes (Pisces: Chaetodontidae). Environ Biol Fish 25, 131–141 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002207
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002207