THE MATING SYSTEM OF THE CARIBBEAN ROSY RAZORFISH, XYRICHTYS MAR TINICENSIS

摘要: Rosy razorfish, Xyrichtys martinicensis, live in isolated colonies on extensive sandbeds the San Blas Islands of Panama. The females these are members contiguous harems, each which is defended by a single large male. These fish unusual among wrasses that gregarious and extremely site-attached. It proposed this adaptation to lack shelter sandbed habitats enables males ~uccessfully defend groups has therefore led development haremic mating system species (female defense polygyny). Among secondary adaptations protogynous sequential hermaphroditism (sex-change from female male), absence non-sex-changed males, reduced male gonad size. Coral reef fishes have wide variety systems. This diversity enhanced widespread ability develop hermaphroditism, either or simultaneous. change sex allows ratios vary radically, especially between size classes, permits complex systems evolve. Many been described although few attempts made discuss ultimate factors determining will evolve particular situation (Robertson Choat, 1974; Choat Robertson, 1975; Warner et al., Robertson Hoffman, 1977; Shapiro, Moyer Nakazono, 1978; Warner, Thresher, 1979; Jones, 198 I; Colin, 1982; 1983).