Synopsis
Predation on eggs of the angelfish, Centropyge ferrugatus, was observed in the coral reefs of Sesoko Island, Okinawa, Japan. This angelfish released pelagic eggs in pairs at sunset after slow ascents. Of 99 matings of this angelfish, an omnivorous damselfish Amblyglyphidodon curacao approached in 25, and fed on the released eggs in eight cases. The spawning angelfish never attacked the egg-predators. Pairs of this angelfish avoided the egg-predators by delaying mating for several minutes during courtships, and by frequent changes of spawning sites. Of the 25 matings targeted by the egg-predators, the angelfish successfully avoided predation in 17 cases. Eight matings were failures mainly due to lack of any attempt to elude the predator, suggesting that the delayed matings on multiple spawning sites are effective anti-egg predator behaviors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References cited
Allen, G.R. 1975. Damselfishes of the south seas. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 238 pp.
Barlow, G.W. 1981. Patterns of parental investment, dispersal and size among coral-reef fishes. Env. Biol. Fish. 6: 65–86.
Bell, L.J. & P.L. Colin. 1986. Mass spawning of Caesio teres (Pisces: Caesionidae) at Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. Env. Biol. Fish. 15: 69–74.
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.
Colin, P.L. & L.J. Bell. 1991. Aspects of the spawning of labrid and scarid fishes (Pisces: Labroidei) at Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands with notes on other families. Env. Biol. Fish. 31: 229–260.
Ehrlich, P.R. 1975. The population biology of coral reef fishes. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 6: 211–247.
Hioki, S., K. Suzuki & Y. Tanaka. 1990. Development of eggs and larvae in the angelfish, Centropyge ferrugatus. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 37: 34–38.
Johannes, R.E. 1978. Reproductive strategies of coastal marine fishes in the tropics. Env. Biol. Fish. 3: 65–84.
Jones, R.S. 1968. Ecological relationships in Hawaiian and Johnston Island Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes). Micronesica 4: 309–361.
Kuwamura, T. 1981. Diurnal periodicity of spawning activity in free-spawning labrid fishes. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 28: 343–348.
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.
Moyer, J.T. 1984. Reproductive behavior and social organization of the pomacanthid fish Genicanthus lamarck at Mactan Island, Philippines. Copeia 1984: 194–200.
Moyer, J.T. 1987. Quantitative observations of predation during spawning rushes of the labrid fish Thalassoma cupido at Miyake-jima, Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 34: 76–81.
Moyer, J.T. 1991. Comparative mating strategies of labrid fishes. Monograph (1), The Watanabe Ichthyological Institute, Tokyo. 90 pp.
Moyer, J.T. & A. Nakazono. 1978. Population structure, reproductive behavior and protogynous hermaphroditism in the angelfish Centropyge interruptus at Miyake-jima, Japan. Japan. J. Ichthyol. 25: 25–39.
Nakazono, A. 1979. Studies on the sex reversal and spawning behavior of five species of Japanese labrid fishes. Report of Fishery Research Laboratory, Kyushu Univ. 4: 1–64. (In Japanese).
Randall, J.E. & H.A. Randall. 1963. The spawning and early development of the Atlantic parrot fish, Sparisonia rubripinne, with notes on other scarid and labrid fishes. Zoologica 48: 49–60.
Robertson, D.R. 1974. A study of the ethology and reproductive biology of the labrid fish, Labroides dimidiatus, at Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane. 295 pp.
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. & S.G. Hoffman. 1977. The roles of female mate choice and predation in the mating systems of some tropical labroid fishes. Z. Tierpsychol. 45: 298–320.
Sano, M., M. Shimizu & Y. Nose. 1984. Food habits of teleostean reef fishes in Okinawa Island, southern Japan. The University Museum, University of Tokyo, Bulletin 25: 1–128.
Sokal, R.R. & F.J. Rohlf. 1981. Biometry. W.H Freeman and Company, San Francisco. 859 pp.
Thresher, R.E. 1982. Courtship and spawning in the emperor angelfish Pomacanthus imperator, with comments on reproduction by other pomacanthid fishes. Mar. Biol. 70: 149–156.
Thresher, R.E. 1984. Reproduction in reef fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 399 pp.
Yoshino, T. & S. Nishijima. 1981. A list of fishes found around Sesoko Island, Okinawa. Sesoko Mar. Sci. Lab. Tech. Rep. 8: 19–87.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sakai, Y., Kohda, M. Anti-egg predator behaviors of the small angelfish Centropyge ferrugatus (Pomacanthidae). Environ Biol Fish 43, 401–405 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001176
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001176