Observations of spawning in the Leather Bass, Dermatolepis dermatolepis (Teleostei: Epinephelidae), at Cocos Island, Costa Rica

• Published in: Environmental biology of fishes Vol. 85; no. 1; pp. 15 - 20
• Main Authors: Erisman, Brad E, Konotchick, Talina H, Blum, Shmulik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.05.2009; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal reproduction; Animal Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Dermatolepis; Eastern Pacific; Environment; Epinephelidae; Fish; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; grouper; Leather Bass; Life Sciences; Marine; Marine biology; Nature Conservation; Spawning; Spawning aggregation; Spawning behavior; Studies; Teleostei; Vertebrata; Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution; Zoology; Indian Ocean Islands; Cocos Islands; Central America; America; Costa Rica; Costa Rica, Cocos I; Costa Rica, Cocos Island; Spawning aggregation; Spawning behavior; Eastern Pacific; Leather Bass; Groupers; Spawning; Sexual behavior; Leather; Aggregation; Vertebrata; Dermatolepis; Pisces; Teleostei; Osteichthyes
• ISSN: 0378-1909; 1573-5133
• DOI: 10.1007/s10641-009-9463-x

Courtship and spawning behavior is described for the Leather Bass, Dermatolepis dermatolepis, from observations made from a manned submersible at Cocos Island, Costa Rica on 19 days between November 2006 and February 2007. Spawning occurred in the evening (16:00-18:30 h) in subgroups of 10-32 individuals that formed within aggregations of 50-70 individuals. The mating sequence was characterized by subgroup formation and crowding behavior followed by a brief vertical spawning rush, gamete release, and the rapid separation of participants. The aggregation was present on all dives, and spawning was not restricted to specific lunar phases.