Figure 3.-- Hypoplectrus guttavarius embraced in the spawning clasp, 

 individual facing head-down has bent body in an S-shape. 



The 



RESULTS 



Typical Spawning Behavior 



Our observations provided 

 H. guttavarius . Hamlets mate 

 zygotes are planktonic. Durin 

 in adjacent or nearby home ran 

 of sunset. They first rendezv 

 occasional short chases. The 

 lateral display while flicking 

 individual slowly rises while 

 of this individual fades to a 

 then rise together about 1 m a 

 Croix, these structures were v 

 sp. , or the coral , Acropora ce 



the following 

 only in pairs, 

 g the daytime, 

 ges. They beg 

 ous, remain cl 

 spawning act b 



its pelvic fi 

 continuing its 

 pastel shade, 

 bove some towe 

 ertical coloni 

 rvicornis. 



general picture of spawning in 

 Fertilization is external and 



mates appear loosely associated 

 in to interact within 2 hr 

 ose together, and engage in 

 egins when one fish presents a 

 ns (fig. 2). The displaying 



display. The bright blue flank 



The other fish follows. The two 

 ring reef structure. At St. 

 es of the gorgonian, Pseudoplexaura 



Once the proper height (about 1-2 m) is attained over a tall reef 

 structure, the following fish folds around the pale colored leader, who poses 

 head down in an S-shaped position (fig. 3). Release of eggs and sperm occurs 



75 



