Mouthbrooder Mouthbrooder

Mouthbrooder - Definition

Mouthbrooder is a term used when talking about fish. Parents care for the eggs/larva/fry by holding them in their mouth, thus protecting them from danger by third party fish.
Which parent performs this task differs from species to species, any combination is possible:

  • both parents share the eggs - usually for species that show a strong pair binding, i.e. pairs that stick together a whole life
  • the father holds the eggs
  • the mother holds the eggs - this is often the case for polygame species
  • or a role change some time inbetween

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