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22nd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Scaber's Frogfish Spawning

The Atlantic hairy frogfish, Atennarius scaber, spawns one or two evenings ahead of the full moons in spring. The female will swell up the day before creating the mucus raft in which the eggs will float away in. The diminutive male will fertilize the egg raft during the spawning rise.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2024
Date Uploaded: 12.2024
Photo Location: Riviera Beach, Florida, United States of America
Copyright: © Gabriel Jensen