Forget everything you thought you knew about absent underwater fathers. Not every marine species simply scatters their offspring and crosses their fins for the best (we're looking at you, tuna). Some marine fathers step up in sensational ways, from pregnancies to months-long sacrifices. Curious to meet the ocean's best fathers? Let's dive in...
Seahorses
It turns out baby bumps aren't just for the ladies - male seahorses also know how to rock them. In Mother Nature's wonderful game of switcheroo, seahorses (along with their close relatives, sea dragons and pipefish) are the only species where the males become pregnant and give birth.
So, how does it work? Female seahorses simply drop their eggs into the male's 'brood pouch', where they're then fertilised and carried until they hatch (which is something of a spectacle). Over 1,000 baby seahorses can shoot out of their pouch, with contractions lasting around 12 hours. Sucks, doesn't it, men?
Yellowhead jawfish
Yellowhead jawfish fathers take self-restraint to a whole new level. To protect their eggs from the ocean's dangers, males hold the unhatched cluster safely in their mouth, refusing food for up to a week. In a world where aquatic cannibalism is something of the norm, this is a pretty impressive parental trick.
But that's not all. They go the extra mile, opening and closing their mouths to oxygenate the eggs and maintain a stable, temperature-controlled environment. A fishy incubator, if you will.
Emperor penguins
While Emperor penguin mothers lay the eggs, it's the fathers who step up for pre- and post-hatch care. During the female's feeding journey, the males spend two months huddled together, protecting their eggs in their brooding pouches during the harsh Antarctic winter (think bitter temperatures below -50°C).
It's all worth it, though. After a period of post-hatch care, the mothers return and the fathers finally head to the seas for the best meal of their lives: a feast of fresh, fatty fish.
Sea spiders
Our next devoted dad has parental behaviours akin to self-sacrifice. Male sea spiders use ovigers - an extra little set of arms - to stick fertilised eggs to themselves. While this protects their young, it's physically demanding and makes them vulnerable to predators and parasites.
With around 1,500 species of sea spiders, methods of madness vary. Some clump eggs together in a blob on their torso, while others glue them to their legs with special secretions (yuck). However they do it, one thing's for sure - they're downright dedicated dads.
Clown fish
As seen on-screen in Finding Nemo, clownfish are fabulous fathers. After a female lays her eggs, the males take charge by carefully fanning the nest to keep it oxygenated. They also have a feisty side, chasing away potential predators that lurk a little too close.
Their dedication can also change their DNA. If the dominant female dies, the largest male will switch genders to allow breeding to continue. Talk about taking on both parental roles.
