Aspects of the reproductive biology of the concha wrasse, Nelabrichthys ornatus, at Tristan da Cunha

• Published in: Environmental biology of fishes Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. 139 - 149
• Main Authors: ANDREW, T. G, BUXTON, C. D, HECHT, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01-06-1996
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Labridae; Marine; Nelabrichthys ornatus; Vertebrata; South Atlantic; Tristan da Cunha; Atlantic Ocean Islands; Atlantic Ocean; PSW, South Atlantic, Tristan da Cunha; Population structure; Histology; Courtship behavior; Breeding behavior; Marine environment; Sex ratio; Vertebrata; Territorial behavior; Gonad; Pisces; Hermaphroditism; Sexual dimorphism; Reproductive cycle
• ISSN: 0378-1909; 1573-5133
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00005215

The reproductive biology of the concha wrasse, Nelabrichthys ornatus, at Tristan da Cunha in the South Atlantic Ocean is described. Histological evidence shows that the species is a monandric protogynous hermaphrodite. N. ornatus displays full permanent sexual dichromatism with all males occurring in the upper size classes of the population. Size specific habitat preference is described. Aspects of the mating system of the species resemble a lek although the possibility of mating site selection by females is not discounted. Spawning groups have a sex ratio of between 4 and 7 females per male.