1. PARENTAL CARE IN FISHES
By;
TANZEEBA AMIN
FISHERY SCIENCE &AQUACULTURE
M.Sc. ZOOLOGY
ALIGARH MUSLIM UNIVERSITY
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2. Introduction
The term ‘parental care’ in used to describe any behavior
performed by parents that appears likely to improve the
survival of the young ones.
In simple words, looking after the eggs or the youngones until
they are independent, to defend them from enemies and
predators.
This phenomenon is well developed in several groups of
fishes.
It is actually very important for perpetuation of race.
Role of male and female in parental care was studied in five
species of clown fishes in captive conditions (T.T. Ajith kumar
et al,2012).
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3. Patterns and diversity of parental care
in fishes
Four main categories:-
1. Fish species which build nest
2. Fish species which do not build nest
3. Viviparity in fishes
4. Care of young ones
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4. Fish species which build nest
Circular nest
Male Amia calva construct a
circular nest among aquatic
plants.
One or more female attend
the nest for laying the eggs.
Then the male fertilizes and
guard the eggs till hatching.
Fig. Circular nest
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5. Basin shaped nest
Darter fish during spawning
season chooses a proper place
known as DOMAIN.
Any female darter can enter it
and construct a basin like
depression to release the eggs
Fig. Basin like nest
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6. Barrel shaped nest
The male three-spined stickleback
fish construct nest of dead aquatic
plants by using sticky secretion
from his kidneys.
Male drags a female to lay eggs
then fertilizes them and takes care
of them.
Fig. Barrel shaped
nest
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7. Burrow or hole nest
The male of African lung fish
(Protopterus), digs oval pits or
holes at the base of tall swamp
grasses. Several females laid
eggs in a single hole.
Floating nest:- The male of
Gymnarchus builds a floating
nest by using aquatic
vegetation.
Fig. Burrow or hole nest
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8. Foamy nest
The male fighting fish (Betta)
builds the nest by producing
small bubbles in his mouth.
The blowing bubbles with
sticky mucous adheres
together & form floating
mass of dome shaped foam.
Fig. Foamy nest
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9. Fish species which do not build nest
1) Deposition of eggs at
suitable places:-
Depositing eggs in masses of
definite forms:-
example- Perca flavescen
(yellow perch)
Deposition of eggs in the
cervices of the rocks:-
example- Cyclopterus.
Deposition of eggs in dead shells
of molluscs:- example- Gobies,
bull head fish & Rhodeus.
Fig. Deposited eggs on shell of
molluscs
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10. 2) Deposition of eggs in fish body
• Mouth cavity as a
shelter for eggs:-
• e.g. female cichlids
(Tilapia) .
• Males of Arius &
Loricaria.
Fig. mouth brooding fish with
eggs in mouth
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11. Courtship behaviour and parental care was observed in
laboratory conditions in Oreochromis mossambicus.
It was observed that after fertilization female kept all eggs in
mouth showing mouth brooding (Sudha patel et al ,2016) .
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Fig. mouth brooding fish with young in mouth
12. Attachment of eggs with bony hooks
The male of Australian
Kurtus attaches the mass of
eggs on a hook like
projection on forehead
until hatching.
Formation of
integumentary cups:-
e.g, Platystacus
fig. male Australian Kurtus with
bony hooks on forehead
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13. Placement of eggs in brood pouches
In the sea horse and pipe fish
male cares the eggs till
hatching.
In sea horse females transfer
eggs into brood pouch of male.
Male keep them till hatching &
also carries the young for
sometimes.
The male pipe fish grows flaps
of skin underside which form a
pouch.
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Male Hippocampus with
brood pouch
14. Formation of mermaid’s purses
Sharks and rays forms
mermaid’s purses which are
secreted by the shell glands of
oviduct. They vary in shapes
but perform same function i.e.
protection.
These are anchored to sea
weeds by their long tendrils.
Development occurs in them &
young hatches out.
Fig. mermaid’s purses of elasmobranchs
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15. 3)Viviparity in fishes
Some fishes are viviparous
such as Scoliodon,
Cymatogaster etc. In them
fertilization & development
both are internal.
4) Care of young ones:-
families such as
Gasterosteidae, Ictaluridae
& Centrarchidae does not
stop with the caring of eggs
but also defend their young
ones.
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Fig. Cymatogaster giving birth to
young
16. Merits & demerits of parental care in
fishes
Merits of parental care :-
• Improves survival of young ones
• Improves development of young ones
Demerits of parental care:-
• Decreased parental survival
• Increased time until the next breeding attempt
• Reduced future fecundity
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17. Conclusion
Parental care is an inborn instinctive behavior shown by
different species of fish. A number of fishes provide parental
care to their eggs and young, provide protection for their
survival against struggle for existence.
Many fish species do not care for their eggs, but lay their eggs
in sufficiently safer places in large number e.g. – some carps.
Great diversity of parental care is found in fishes. Formation
of basin shaped simple nest to viviparity and few take care of
hatchlings.
18. References
• Ichthyology handbook by B G Kapoor and Bhavna khanna
• Biology of fishes by Quentin Bone and Richard H. Moore
• The biology of fishes by M. Harry Kyle
• fundamentals of Ichthiology by S P Biswas
• www.slideshare.net/BhavyaVashisht/parental-care-in-fishes
• www.yourarticlelililibraryy.com/fish/anatomy-
and.../9...parental-care...fishes/88416/
• rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org
• T.T Ajith kumar et al 2012, determining the level of parental
care in 5 species of amphiron,Indian journal of geo marine
science,vol41(5),430-441.
• Susha patel and Dr Mangala nayak 2016,courtship and
parental care in oreochromis in lab conditions,IJIRAS ,vol 3
issue 10,230-234.
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