This study was made to expand the knowledge of the relationships between the mussels and the bitterlings (Acheilognathus yamatsutae Mori) and the materials were collected in lake Uiam from Mar. 1987 to Oct. 1988. The female fish has developed a promi...
This study was made to expand the knowledge of the relationships between the mussels and the bitterlings (Acheilognathus yamatsutae Mori) and the materials were collected in lake Uiam from Mar. 1987 to Oct. 1988. The female fish has developed a prominent ovipositor and the male displayed a nuptial color during reproductive period from the late April to August. The territory-defending behavior was four types and the extent of territory was about 60 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height. The mussel was the most important factor to stimulated the reproductive behavior rather than male and female. The number of total mean eggs in a fish was 300 and the mean egg size was 1.97 mm in length and 1.74 mm in breadth of ovoid shape. The preference of the oviposition of fish to the mussels was order of Unio douglasiae, Lamprotula gottschei, Anodonta fukudai and A. woodiana. The egg began to hatch approximately 33 hours after insemination and reached the free swimming stage within 22 days after insemination at water temperature 25± 1 ℃ . The sex ratio of the male to the female was 1:1.73 and approached to an adult-shaped fish from about 40 mm of body length. The contents of stomach were the algae and zooplanktons.