Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 150, June 2017, pp. 1-29. | Page 9

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displays performed during courting include leaning away from each other so
their ventral surfaces are close, leaning towards each other with their dorsal
surfaces close while shaking their heads, and/or one or both will engage in head
standing (Animal World).
Once the pair has decided on a spawning site, they will meticulously and
neurotically clean the surface for proper egg adhesion. The area is generally close
to the anemone, which provides the protection of its tentacles. Just before
spawning, the clown fish pair will pick at the anemone to cause it to retract,
exposing the full spawning site. The female presses her belly against the surface,
quivers and drags herself along the surface, leaving a trail of eggs and will
continue this in a circular pattern until she has laid all of her eggs. The male will
then come up behind her and fertilize the eggs (Animal World).

The Diver Ola Mostafa Khalaf diving near the Shark Island in the Sea of Khor Fakkan,
Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean. 21.08.2015.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/20973819948/
Spawning occurs late morning to early afternoon and can last up to two and half
hours with the clutch of eggs numbering on average between 100 to 2500,
depending on the size of the female. The eggs are fanned and mouthed to keep
them free of fungal infections, debris, and to keep them well oxygenated as they
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 150 – June 2017