sex changes in angelfish

[michaelg]

Sexually dichromatic protogynous angelfish Centropyge ferrugata (Pomacanthidae) males can change back to females

Sakai Y, Karino K, Kuwamura T, Nakashima Y, Maruo Y

ZOOLOGICAL SCIENCE

20 (5): 627-633 MAY 2003

Document type: Article    Language: English    Cited References: 40    Times Cited: 0   

Abstract:

Protogynous hermaphroditism, female-to-male sex change, is well known among reef fishes where large males monopolize harems of females. When the dominant male disappears from a harem, the largest female may change sex within a few weeks. Recently, from experiments with some protogynous haremic fishes in which two males' cohabitated, it was confirmed that sexual behavior and gonads were completely reversible according to individual social status. However, the ability to reverse secondary-developed sexual body coloration has never been examined in any protogynous fish. We conducted two male cohabitation experiments with the protogynous haremic angelfish, Centropyge ferrugata, which has conspicuous sexual dichromatism on the dorsal fin. Smaller males of C. ferrugata soon performed female-specific mating behaviors when they became subordinated after losing a contest. They then completed gonadal sex change to females 47 or 89 d (n=2) after beginning cohabitation. In the course of the reversed gonadal sex change, male-specific coloration on the dorsal fin changed to that of a female. Thus, the sex of C. ferrugata, including secondary developed sexually dichromatic characteristics, can be completely reversible in accord with their social status.

 

Author Keywords:

reversed sex change, sexual dichromatism, mating behavior, social status, marine angelfish

 

KeyWords Plus:

CORAL-REEF FISH, SEX-CHANGE, HALICHOERES-MELANURUS, REPRODUCTIVE-BEHAVIOR, LABROIDES-DIMIDIATUS, HERMAPHRODITISM, ANIMALS, MORPHOLOGY, TELEOSTEI, EVOLUTION

 

Addresses:

Sakai Y, Hiroshima Univ, Grad Sch Biosphere Sci, Dept Bioresource Sci & Technol, Kagamiyama 1-4-4, Higashihiroshima 7398528, Japan

Hiroshima Univ, Grad Sch Biosphere Sci, Dept Bioresource Sci & Technol, Higashihiroshima 7398528, Japan

Tokyo Gakugei Univ, Dept Biol, Tokyo 1848501, Japan

Chunkyo Univ, Fac Liberal Arts, Nagoya, Aichi 4668666, Japan

Nihon Univ, Coll Econ, Tokyo 1018360, Japan

Univ Ryukyus, Fac Sci, Dept Chem Biol & Marine Sci, Okinawa 9030213, Japan

 

Publisher:

ZOOLOGICAL SOC JAPAN, TOKYO

 

IDS Number:

701EZ

 

ISSN:

0289-0003

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