JULY 7, 2016
by Chuck Bednar
Monogamy and hermaphroditism are
not all that uncommon in the animal kingdom, but put both of these traits
together and ramp them up to 11 and you have an unusual type of fish that
changes its sex role more than 20 times per day while remaining faithful to its
life partner.
This unusual species is known as
the chalk bass (Serranus tortugarum),
and according to a new study published recently in the journal Behavioral Ecology, this tiny reef fish lives in Panama, is
neon green in color, grows to more than three inches in length, and enters a
lifelong relationship with a mate that requires it to rapidly switch between
male and female roles.
According to National Geographic, chalk bass utilize a
reproductive technique known as “egg trading” in which they split their daily
egg clutch into small groups, then alternate sex roles in repeated spawning
bouts to ensure that they can fertilize as many eggs as they make. Switching
roles encourages reciprocation and faithfulness from their mates, the study
said.
“Our study indicates that animals
in long-term partnerships are paying attention to whether their partner is
contributing to the relationship fairly – something many humans may identify
with from their own long-term relationships,” lead author Mary Hart, an adjunct
biology professor at the University of Florida, said in a statement.
Unexpected behavior appears to
provide a reproductive advantage
Switching sex roles is key to the
survival of the chalk bass, Hart explained, because it is the only way that a
member of the species can make sure its partner is contributing equally.
Basically, if a member of the species wants its mate to produce more eggs, it
first has to lead by example.
Hart told Nat Geo that,
during her observations of the species, she found that individuals would rarely
produce more than two egg parcels at one time before changing sex roles and
encouraging their mate to follow their example. Her team monitored the chalk
bass for six months and found that all of the couples remained together the
entire time that both were living at the site.
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