Atmosphere Resorts & Spa Philippines has shared a compelling video clip to illustrate why it feels its diving location at Dauin near Dumaguete is so special.
Captured by returning guest Joel Bergsma during a dive with one of the resort’s divemasters, Arjay, it reveals the rare sight of three frogfish engaged in what appears to be a “competitive mating scenario”.
“What you’re seeing here is likely an egg-carrying female being courted by two competing males,” says Atmosphere. “Even with experienced guides who know where to look, witnessing behaviour like this is unusual.”
The Dumaguete region of Negros Oriental has long had a reputation as the world’s “frogfish capital”. In this part of the Philippines frogfish can mate year-round, depending on water temperature, food availability and female readiness. Diver encounters of such activity are rare, however, because frogfish are usually solitary and highly territorial.
When a female is ready to mate, she releases pheromones into the water and a male – or in this case males – detects this and approaches cautiously.
Males may nudge or follow females, sometimes for hours, though because females can grow much larger there can be a risk of violent rejection, especially of a small or weak male.
Not built for combat
Things can get tense when two males decide to pursue a single female, because frogfish are not built for combat. Rather than fight it out, they jostle to stay closer to the female than the rival.
The female controls the outcome and ultimately decides when to initiate a “spawning rise”. The ‘winning’ male is simply the one best aligned with her body as she moves upward.
The successful male stays tightly pressed to the female and his rival usually falls behind or gives up. In rare cases a bad loser might try to follow but, because fertilisation of the released eggs is so rapid, only the closest male is likely to succeed.
Atmosphere Resorts & Spa Philippines is offering its annual “Summer Promo” to encourage guests to visit between 1 June and 30 September, during which time if offers six nights for the price of five (or 12 nights for the price of 10) for all room types and including breakfast.
It also has a number of other offers that can be checked out here, though witnessing frogfish threesomes cannot be guaranteed.
Also on Divernet: Antennarius Frogfish Capital of the Philippines
