A quantitative analysis of the occurrence of visual and acoustic displays during the courtship in the freshwater goby, Padogobius martensi (Günther, 1961) (Pisces, Gobiidae)

TLDR: The results show that the visual display is the main signal to orient and attract the female towards the male's nest; sound production becomes more frequent when the male approaches and enters his nest.

Abstract: Seventeen pairs of Padogobius martensi were observed to compare the relative occurrence of the acoustic and visual displays performed by the male during courtship. The results show that the visual display, which gradually decreases when the male approaches the nest, is the main signal to orient and attract the female towards the male's nest; sound production, on the other hand, becomes more frequent when the male approaches and enters his nest. So, the acoustic signal has an important role when the visual one becomes ineffectual, when the male is hidden in the shelter. Visual and acoustic signals seem to have a complementary role and the male P.martensi uses the most effective signal in each particular situation.