Parental Care in FishesParental Care in Fishes

Sameer G ChebbiSameer G Chebbi

Dept. of ZoologyDept. of Zoology

Industrial Fish and FisheriesIndustrial Fish and Fisheries

Karnatak Science College, Karnatak Science College, DharwadDharwad

IntroductionIntroduction• Reproductive Behaviour in fishesReproductive Behaviour in fishes

• Reproductive behaviour comprises Reproductive behaviour comprises activity concerned with establishment activity concerned with establishment and maintenance of territory i.e., and maintenance of territory i.e., Nest building behaviour and bringing Nest building behaviour and bringing the male and female in close for the the male and female in close for the ovi-position and fertilization.ovi-position and fertilization.

• Parental care that comprises of all Parental care that comprises of all their activity associated with the care their activity associated with the care of the eggs and young ones from of the eggs and young ones from fertilization till the young ones are fertilization till the young ones are separated from parents.separated from parents.

IntroductionIntroduction• There are some fishes which may There are some fishes which may

breed more than once in a year, breed more than once in a year, but the main aim of the breeding but the main aim of the breeding is brought about the union of is brought about the union of sperm and eggs after fertilization sperm and eggs after fertilization of egg and the next is the survival of egg and the next is the survival of the fertilized egg.of the fertilized egg.

• In open water millions of eggs are In open water millions of eggs are laid at once at time but all of them laid at once at time but all of them do not mature at the same time do not mature at the same time but they are mature at batch wise.but they are mature at batch wise.

IntroductionIntroduction• There are 3 basic type of fish There are 3 basic type of fish

reproduction is seen and they are as reproduction is seen and they are as followsfollows

• Bisexual: In this type of reproduction Bisexual: In this type of reproduction eggs and sperms are developed in a eggs and sperms are developed in a separate individual. Ex: Sardine, Catla.separate individual. Ex: Sardine, Catla.

• Hermaphrodite: In this type of Hermaphrodite: In this type of reproduction both eggs and sperms are reproduction both eggs and sperms are developed in a same individual. Ex: developed in a same individual. Ex: Sciaenid.Sciaenid.

• Parthenogenesis: In this type of Parthenogenesis: In this type of production the young once are production the young once are developed without fertilization. Ex: developed without fertilization. Ex: Amazon Molly.Amazon Molly.

Parental CareParental Care• Parental care is effective production of Parental care is effective production of

eggs and sperms alone would not be eggs and sperms alone would not be enough to bring about the survival of enough to bring about the survival of the species.the species.

• Quite a large number of fishes have Quite a large number of fishes have evolved various means for affording evolved various means for affording care to the fertilized egg and young care to the fertilized egg and young once by one or both sexes raring of once by one or both sexes raring of their fertilized eggs or young once, and their fertilized eggs or young once, and which is very important achievement in which is very important achievement in the trend of evolution.the trend of evolution.

• This phenomenon of parental care is This phenomenon of parental care is well developed in many group of well developed in many group of fishes.fishes.

Parental CareParental Care• Parental care in fishes is an Parental care in fishes is an

interesting instinct behaviour of interesting instinct behaviour of certain vertebrate which offers certain vertebrate which offers protection to their eggs and protection to their eggs and young once.young once.

• Fish lay millions of eggs in the Fish lay millions of eggs in the open water and are expose to open water and are expose to various dangerous situation.various dangerous situation.

• Parental care is must in some of Parental care is must in some of the fishes that lay small number the fishes that lay small number of eggs.of eggs.

Parental CareParental Care• There are large number of There are large number of

interesting cases like parents interesting cases like parents protect and take care of their protect and take care of their fertilized eggs and young once.fertilized eggs and young once.

• Hence, fishes have evolved various Hence, fishes have evolved various means of affording protection to means of affording protection to the fertilized eggs and young once.the fertilized eggs and young once.

• Selection breeding ground, nest Selection breeding ground, nest forming, laying of eggs or young forming, laying of eggs or young once at suitable places are the once at suitable places are the different behaviour shown by the different behaviour shown by the fishes during breeding season.fishes during breeding season.

Parental CareParental Care• Some of the behaviour such as Nest Some of the behaviour such as Nest

building, tertiary behaviour, building, tertiary behaviour, protection of eggs or young once protection of eggs or young once etc., are the some of the important etc., are the some of the important aspect of the parental care.aspect of the parental care.

• Hence, Parental care includes, all Hence, Parental care includes, all the post spawning or post mating the post spawning or post mating care afforded by the parents.care afforded by the parents.

• It may be defined as “an association It may be defined as “an association between the parents and the between the parents and the offspring to increase the chances of offspring to increase the chances of survival of offspring to continuation survival of offspring to continuation of race in the future.of race in the future.

IntroductionIntroduction• Various devices have been Various devices have been

adopted by the fish by the adopted by the fish by the purpose of parental care as they purpose of parental care as they are as followsare as follows

• Formation of NestFormation of Nest

• Mouth Cavity as Shelter.Mouth Cavity as Shelter.

• Coiling around the eggs.Coiling around the eggs.

• Formation of Intugumentory Formation of Intugumentory cups.cups.

• Development of Brood Pouches.Development of Brood Pouches.

• Viviparity.Viviparity.

Parental CareParental Care• Different species of fishes builds Different species of fishes builds

different types of nest for the different types of nest for the protection of their eggs or young protection of their eggs or young once. Following are the commonly once. Following are the commonly seen in fish.seen in fish.

• Basin like nest: Ex: Sunfish Basin like nest: Ex: Sunfish Male fish of the North America i.e., Male fish of the North America i.e.,

Sun fish which scoop up a shallow Sun fish which scoop up a shallow basin like circular nest in the bottom basin like circular nest in the bottom of the water body for the laying eggs of the water body for the laying eggs by female. The large sized stones are by female. The large sized stones are removed from the nest and only a fine removed from the nest and only a fine sand layer is left for the attachment sand layer is left for the attachment of the fertilized eggs. The male look of the fertilized eggs. The male look after the nest until all eggs hatch and after the nest until all eggs hatch and young once are come out of the nest.young once are come out of the nest.

IntroductionIntroduction• Crude type of nest: Ex: Amia and Crude type of nest: Ex: Amia and

OphiocephalusOphiocephalus• These two fishes build the nest on the These two fishes build the nest on the

swampy end of the lake. Nest is swampy end of the lake. Nest is circular in appearance and has a soft circular in appearance and has a soft vegetation surrounding it and forming vegetation surrounding it and forming a crude type of nest. After the a crude type of nest. After the completion of the nest one or more completion of the nest one or more female enter the nest and layed the female enter the nest and layed the eggs in large number. Which get eggs in large number. Which get attached to the vegetation and attached to the vegetation and development proceeds under the development proceeds under the constant watch of the male fishes and constant watch of the male fishes and the young fishes hatch out. They are the young fishes hatch out. They are allowed to leave the nest under the allowed to leave the nest under the protection of male who always guard protection of male who always guard and together by encircling to them and together by encircling to them whenever if feels danger. whenever if feels danger.

IntroductionIntroduction• Hole type of Nest: Ex: African lungfishHole type of Nest: Ex: African lungfish

• This type of fish builds the nest in the This type of fish builds the nest in the form of irregular deep hole all about form of irregular deep hole all about 1ft length on the swampy places 1ft length on the swampy places along the river banks. Male guard the along the river banks. Male guard the nest and after spawning male keeps nest and after spawning male keeps on guard over it. At occasionally on guard over it. At occasionally aerated the water by its slow body aerated the water by its slow body movements with help of fins and movements with help of fins and stirring the water with help of the tail stirring the water with help of the tail for the benefit of the developing for the benefit of the developing eggs and female fish swim around the eggs and female fish swim around the nest and chase the predator fishes. nest and chase the predator fishes.

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