Reproductive characteristics, egg and larval development of short ninespine stickleback, Pungitius kaibarae

In this study, the reproductive behavior and embryonic and larval development of the short ninespine stickleback Pungitius kaibarae was described and illustrated based on observations during spawning, hatching, and larval rearing trials. Adult P. kaibarae were collected downstream in Jinhae during the reproductive season (April-May). Males had nuptial coloration on their entire black bodies, with blue dorsal spines and yellow eyes, whereas females had a brown spotted pattern on their bodies. Males built nests on the stems of water weeds and attracted females. Fertilization occurred in the nest immediately after spawning, and males guarded the eggs until hatching. The fertilized eggs of P. kaibarae were spherical, demersal, adhesive, and transparent, and each egg measured 1.43 ± 0.07 mm in diameter. The morula, blastula, and gastrula stages, as well as hatching began at 5, 18.5, 21.5, and 96 post fertilization (HPF), respectively, at 20.0 ± 0.5℃. The newly hatched larvae had a total length (TL) of 5.67 ± 0.50 mm, with a yolk volume of 0.583 ± 0.059 mm3. Their mouths and anuses had not yet opened. At 2 days posthatching (days post hatching, DPH), the yolk was completely absorbed and the larvae began to feed exogenously. Pigmentation was observed in freshly hatched larvae 4 h after hatching, with the presence of eight areas with a dotted pattern on the dorsal surface of the larvae and dispersed spots on the head and yolk sac. At 30 DPH, the TL of the juveniles was 21.34 ± 1.70 mm. The nest area and number of eggs were 259.56 ± 101.39 mm2 (75.18-506.04) and 155.33 ± 114.12 (0-437), respectively.