spawning Behavior of the Cottid Fish 
Clinocottus recalvus (Greeley) 
Robert W. Morris^ 
Clinocottus recalvus (Greeley) 1899 is a 
small tide-pool cottid found along the coast 
of California and Lower California. This paper 
reports briefly on the spawning activities of 
individuals confined in a laboratory aquarium. 
Dr. Rolf L. Bolin has kindly furnished infor- 
mation concerning the anatomy and biology 
of this and related species. 
Two females and one male were collected 
from tide pools at Pacific Grove, California, 
on February 5, 1951. They were placed in an 
aquarium, which had wooden ends and 
bottom and glass sides and was supplied with 
running water. They were fed regularly on 
chopped sea mussels. A decided preference 
was shown for the mussel gonads; the mantle 
edges were somewhat less acceptable, and the 
gills were seldom eaten. 
The aquarium contained two small granite 
rocks. It was intended that these would pro- 
vide a suitable place for the deposition of 
eggs. Grooves, about 0.5 cm. wide and 1.5 
cm. deep, routed along the bottom and ends 
of the aquarium and in which the glass sides 
were set, also provided places for the deposi- 
tion of eggs. 
Periodic examination of the aquarium dis- 
closed the deposition of egg clusters on or 
about the following dates: February 27, 
March 3, 17, 19, 23, and 27, April 9 and 21, 
and May 6, 1951. Each of the clusters was re- 
moved shortly after its discovery, as I soon 
learned that prolonged contact with the wood 
^ Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, California. 
Manuscript received January 29, 1952. 
of the tank resulted in the death of the em- 
bryos. 
Of the nine clusters of eggs deposited, 
five were laid in the vertical grooves of the 
ends of the aquarium, two were laid beneath 
one of the stones, one was laid in the vertical 
crack between the two stones, and one was 
laid in one of the grooves of the bottom. Each 
of the clusters fitted closely the place where 
it was deposited, indicating that they were 
laid in a very fluid state. 
The first five clusters were of a deep vina- 
ceous color. The sixth was of the same color, 
but of lesser intensity. The last three clusters 
were bright orange, very closely matching the 
color of the mussel gonads upon which the 
adults had fed. 
Prior to the deposition of each of the last 
four clusters of eggs, the female concerned 
showed a marked ventrally directed protru- 
sion around the anus (Fig. \d). The profile of 
the bulge became progressively more acute up 
to the time the eggs were spawned. This was 
not observed preceding the earlier spawnings, 
but could have been overlooked. 
It was not possible to determine which fe- 
male produced the first four egg clusters, 
since no differences in appearance were noted. 
However, it was possible to determine which 
female deposited each of the last five clusters, 
since their abdominal regions were quite col- 
lapsed immediately following spawning. The 
two females spawned alternately over the pe- 
riod March 23 to May 6. 
On three occasions spawning took place 
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