Abstract
Timing and sites of parturition of the viviparous scorpionfish Sebastiscus marmoratus were investigated both in aquaria and natural habitats of a rocky coast in southern Japan. Females released 4 mm TL larvae during the early night in winter. Night spawning may be advantageous in avoiding predators of both larvae and spawners, because most such predators are inactive during the night. Females inhabiting shallow areas (< 6 m depth) moved to deeper sites for parturition, but ones inhabiting deeper areas (6–8 m depth) gave birth within their usual habitats. This migration may be advantageous in effective larval dispersal.
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Fujita, H., Kohda, M. Timing and sites of parturition of the viviparous scorpionfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus. Environmental Biology of Fishes 52, 225–229 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007471919373
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007471919373