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

• Published in: Environmental Biology of Fishes
• Main Authors: Andrew, TG, Buxton, CD, Hecht, T
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Kluwer Academic Publishers 1996
• Subjects: Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences; Fisheries Sciences; Fisheries Sciences not elsewhere classified; Tristan; South Atlantic Ocean
• Online Access: http://www.springerlink.com; https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00005215; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/48464

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.