Synopsis
Obligate coral-dwelling hawkfishes have been hypothesized to be monogamous. This hypothesized mating system is at odds with what is known of those of other cirrhitids. Neocirrhites armatus, which inhabits Pocillopora spp. corals, and Oxycirrhites typus, which inhabits gorgonians and antipatharian corals, were examined for evidence of a monogamous mating system. Life history criteria that favor monogamy in reef fishes (Barlow 1986) were examined for these two species. Facultative monogamy was found in both. In this mating system, males are limited in their ability to acquire and maintain females, and thus have only a single mate, but may acquire additional females if conditions for doing so are favorable.
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Donaldson, T.J. Facultative monogamy in obligate coral-dwelling hawkfishes (Cirrh tidae). Environ Biol Fish 26, 295–302 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002466
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00002466