This is a deepwater fish, which lives in the lightless depths of the ocean, where feeding opportunities are few and far between. As a result, these fish range large distances, and they are solitary hunters.
Which means that when it's time to reproduce, finding a male can be a tough job for a female. How much more efficient, then, to find one and simply let him attach for the rest of his natural life? His body undergoes a process that results in his permanent dependency on the female, as he becomes essentially a sperm bag. Meanwhile, the female swims about with no further need to search for a mate next season. She's carrying her sperm supply with her.
I don't think "parasitic" is the proper term as they're Mutualistically benefiting from one another. The smaller male receives nutrients from the female that he is attached to and in turn the female gets the male's sperm.
This is a deepwater fish, which lives in the lightless depths of the ocean, where feeding opportunities are few and far between. As a result, these fish range large distances, and they are solitary hunters.
ReplyDeleteWhich means that when it's time to reproduce, finding a male can be a tough job for a female. How much more efficient, then, to find one and simply let him attach for the rest of his natural life? His body undergoes a process that results in his permanent dependency on the female, as he becomes essentially a sperm bag. Meanwhile, the female swims about with no further need to search for a mate next season. She's carrying her sperm supply with her.
Natural selection at its efficient best!
I don't think "parasitic" is the proper term as they're Mutualistically benefiting from one another. The smaller male receives nutrients from the female that he is attached to and in turn the female gets the male's sperm.
ReplyDelete