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What is a gonopodium?

Updated: 4/28/2022
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In many species of fish, fins have been modified to allow internal fertilization. A gonopodium is an anal fin that is modified into an intromittent organ in males of certain species of live-bearing fish in the families Anablepidae and Poeciliidae. It is movable and used to impregnate females during mating. The male's anal fin's 3rd, 4th and 5th rays are formed into a tube like structure in which the sperm of the fish is ejected. In some species, the gonopodium may be as much as 50% of the total body length. Occasionally the fin is too long to be used, as in the "lyretail" breeds of Xiphophorus helleri. Hormone treated females may develop gonopodia. These are useless for breeding. One finds similar organs having the same characteristics in other types of fish, for example the andropodium in the Hemirhamphodon or in the Goodeidae. When ready for mating, the gonopodium becomes "erect" and points forward, towards the female. The male shortly inserts the organ into the sex opening of the female, with hook-like adaptations that allow the fish to grip onto the female to insure impregnation. If a female remains stationary and her partner contacts her vent with his gonopodium, she is fertilized. The sperm is preserved in the female's oviduct. This allows females to, at any time, fertilize themselves without further assistance of males. [1]

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonopodium#Internal_fertilization

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Q: What is a gonopodium?
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Related questions

Is a female's gonopodium longer than a male's gonopodium on a black molly?

yes


How do live-bearers get pregnant?

Male live beareres have a modified anal fin, called a gonopodium. The gonopodium is inserted into the female, and sperm are transferred into her, where they are then able to fertilize the females eggs.


How can you tell between a girl fish or boy fish?

The male fish has a Gonopodium Particular to the Live-bearing fish, the gonopodium is the pelvic fin of the male fish that have been converted into genital organs.


How do guppies fertilize eggs?

The male places his 'gonopodium' into the females 'cloaca' and his 'milt' passes along it into the female and fertilises her 'ova'.


How does a male fish pregnant female fish?

In the case of the several species of fish known as "Livebearers" The male has a hook on his "gonopodium" with which he hooks on to the female fishes "cloaca". Once he has hooked on, his "milt" is released and this travels along the gonopodium and enters the cloaca where the ova are fertilised.


How do you know if a pineapple swordtail molly fish is male or female?

male mollies, as well as male guppies, swordtails, and platies have an organ called a gonopodium near where their anus is. this organ functions as a penis, and females do not have one. where a male has a gonopodium, which is a long, slender fin, females have a normal-looking anal fin.


How do you tell a female and male guppie apart?

Look for a gonopodium, which is a sharp fin protruding out at the anal fin. The one with it is the male.


How do male guppies fertilise the eggs?

The male inserts his 'gonopodium' into the females 'cloaca' and releases his milt (sperm). Her 'ova' (eggs) are then fertilised internally.


How long does it take for male reproductive parts to grow on a baby?

Male guppies can grow male reproductive parts (gonopodium) very quickly.


Where is the gonopodium?

Right behind the males anal fin(the back bottom fin at the rear of the belly)Its shaped like a small pointy rod.


Do molly's eyes tell you whether it is a male or female?

Never heard of anything about the eyes. A molly having a gonopodium is a male and one without is a female.


How can one identify a male fish from female fish?

Gonopodium For fishes that give birth to young alive, the males usually have a gonopodium (seen above), and the females are plumper. For egg-laying fishes, the females are also plumper and the males are more colorful. For more info on fishes, you can also check out the following: http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/fresh.htm http://www.justtropicalfish.com/