Shedd Spotlights Springtime Courtship and Rituals of Aquatic Life

CHICAGO - For many species in the aquatic animal world, the change of season to springtime indicates that it’s time to pair up with a mate. From choosing very particular rocks to synchronizing movements, many of Shedd’s residents have unique ways of coupling throughout the season and beyond.

PENGUINS

Both species of penguins residing at Shedd – rockhopper and Magellanic – may be spotted building nests and pairing up over the next few weeks. The birds are provided with rocks, pieces of hose and lavender to mimic materials found in their native habitats for nest building. In addition to providing nest-building materials, the animal care team alters the light cycle to indicate the change in season. From there, the male penguins usually build the nests, either to attract a female mate or reinforce an existing bond, though the females may help with the construction process once they are paired.

Female rockhoppers will inspect the nests to choose their mate, so the males must carefully select the best rocks, carrying them back one-by-one in their beaks. But if a fellow male has an eye-catching rock already in his nest, the penguins may resort to stealing from others in the colony. If an egg is laid, the bonded pair of penguins will share the responsibilities of incubating, brooding and eventually feeding the chick. While not all eggs laid are fertile or able to fully develop, there is always the possibility of a new chick joining the colony.

Shedd’s breeding program and support of the nesting process each year contributes to the shared and cooperatively managed Species Survival Plan for southern rockhopper penguins, which are listed as a vulnerable population by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Contributing to this plan, led by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, aligns with Shedd Aquarium’s mission and dedication to care and conservation.

Guests can get a bird’s eye view of the colony’s annual nesting season in the Polar Play Zone.

SEAHORSES AND SEADRAGONS

The typical parenting roles are reversed for both seahorses and seadragons as the males take the lead in bearing their young. Before mating, the pair performs a unique “dance” as a courtship behavior. Potbelly seahorses will change their body colors to brighter hues, intertwine their tails and swim together in short bursts for up to eight hours, after which the female will deposit her eggs into the male’s brood pouch. While this behavior is part of the mating process, seahorses will perform a shorter version of this ritual every day with their mate, as seahorses are among the few fishes that mate for life. This daily display of devotion can last up to 10 minutes and functions to reinforce the pair’s relationship and bring the two into reproductive synchrony.

Similarly, weedy seadragons will swim side by side and mirror each other’s movements for up to 24 hours in this courtship “dance” before the female releases her eggs. However, unlike seahorses, male weedy seadragons do not have a pouch, instead carrying the eggs on the underside of their tails until they develop.

Guests can visit potbelly seahorses and weedy seadragons in the Oceans gallery, possibly getting a rare glimpse of these behaviors.

CICHLIDS

Across species, cichlids have a wide variety of mating behaviors. For some, the males will dig out a cave for the female to lay her eggs and then display vibrant colors and shake their fins in a courtship “dance” to lure her in. The female lays her eggs in the nest and the male fertilizes them. From there, the female will protect the eggs and newly hatched fish through mouthbrooding, a process where the female carries her young in her mouth for up to four weeks to keep them safe from predators, spitting them out occasionally so the young can eat.

Over 40 species of cichlids live at Shedd, and visitors can find many in the Islands and Lakes gallery.

FROGS

In wetlands throughout the Great Lakes region, springtime brings a chorus of trills, quacks and creaks from frogs who have returned to their place of birth. As breeding peaks in April and May, male frogs produce unique calls that communicate important information about their size and health, hoping to attract an interested female. The calls are distinctive for each species, which also helps the females find mates in a diverse community of different frogs.

Shedd’s conservation research team studies frog and salamander populations in Cook County, working to safeguard amphibian species and preserve biodiversity in the essential ecosystems of our local wetlands.

Illinois residents can listen during the spring and summer months for frog mating calls in natural habitats across the state, perhaps even in your own backyard.

VISUALS: Find high-resolution photos and broadcast quality video here: https://personal.filesanywhere.com/fs/v.aspx?v=8e6f63875e6573b4a2ab

Video/Photo Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium