Mating habits of the rockfish Sebastes inermis

Abstract

Underwater observations were conducted on the mating habits of rockfish, Sebastes inermis, southwest of Kyushu Island, Japan, in 1984—1986. The reproductive season of the fish lasted from October to January, when most males over 1 year of age established territories ranging from 12 to 70 m2. Home ranges of females overlapped with male territories. Males performed courtship behaviors when females approached the territories. Principal motor patterns of courtship were characterized by ‘lateral display’ and ‘rushing and turning’ movements. The mating pair formed about 30 min before copulation. As the mating pair ascended to 1.5–2.0m above the bottom, the male suddenly coiled around the female’s body to copulate. In spite of frequent courtship behavior [14.8 (± 10.7 SD) × 15 min−1, December 1985] of males, only seven copulations were observed, occurring mostly at dusk in December. In December and January, more than half of the males had accumulated urine, some large volume of it. It was assumed that the male attracted the female by releasing substances via urine during the ‘lateral display’ movements, which were performed just in front of the female, near the snout. Other functional aspects of courtship behavior are discussed.