Female-female Spawning and Sex Change in a Haremic Coral-reef Fish, Labroides dimidiatus

Abstract

In the polygynous coral-reef fish, Labroides dimidiatus, the largest female may complete sex change within a few weeks if the male disappears. We conducted male removal experiments just prior to spawning time. The largest female possessing ovulated eggs spawned in the male role with smaller females, 1–2 hr after the male removal, suggesting that ovulation could not prevent male sexual behavior. During the female-female spawning eggs were actually released, but of course unfertilized. The largest female subsequently spawned in the female role when the male was immediately returned. If the male was never returned, such spawning behavior was repeated almost every day until the largest fish was able to release sperm. Smaller females will participate in such fruitless spawning according to their preference for larger mates. The largest females should perform male sexual behavior to secure future mates, even before completion of gonadal sex change.