Walker, S.P.W., and Ryen, C. (2007) Opportunistic hybridization between two congeneric tropical reef fish. Coral Reefs, 26 (3). p. 539.

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Abstract

[Extract] The wrasses Halichoeres margaritaceus and Halichoeres miniatus (family Labridae) are monandric protogynous hermaphrodites, where males are derived from females through post-maturational sex change. Under stable social conditions the male of each species guards several intraspecific females and mates exclusively with those females daily. However, when male H. miniatus were removed during behavioural experiments at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, male H. margaritaceus increased territory area to incorporate both H. margaritaceus and H. miniatus females. H. miniatus females participated in courting behaviour, resulting in pair-spawning bouts. When eggs from such spawnings were collected 79% were found to be fertilized, and these embryos hatched and develop into larvae. Hybrid spawning via the removal of H. miniatus males was replicated at two additional sites within the lagoon.

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