Aquatic Courtship Rituals of Painted Greenlings (Oxylebius Pictus)

In the depths of British Columbia’s Emerald Sea, painted greenlings (Oxylebius Pictus) follow a notably intricate polygamous mating system in which males stake out territories, undergo striking colour transformations, and take sole responsibility for guarding the eggs. They defend rocky patches, often rich in crevices or vegetation, against intruders. During courtship and territorial disputes, males shift from their usual white-and-red–striped pattern to a much darker, nearly black coloration in which the stripes fade and, in some individuals, pale white spots emerge. This dramatic shift helps them attract females while signalling dominance to rival males. This is exactly the kind of obscure fish fact one should casually drip at dinner to remind everyone at the table that you’re both delightful company and disturbingly well-versed in aquatic courtship rituals.