Editing Dragonet (section)

==Competition/aggression==

Male dragonets form [[dominance hierarchies]] and act extremely aggressively towards each other. They are often observed chasing and biting, which occurs primarily when two males are close to a female during courtship and pairing.<ref name=Laboratory/> Fights can be very intense; when one male recognizes another male near its breeding site, it will rush toward it and bite at its rival's mouth. The two may bite at each other and twist their bodies around one another for longer than a minute.<ref name=Behavior>{{cite journal|last=Harrington|first=Michael E.|title=Behavior patterns and sexual dimorphism in the spotted dragonet, ''Diplogrammus pauciradiatus'' (Pisces: Callionymidae)|journal=Bulletin of Marine Science|year=1997|volume=60|issue=3|pages=872–893}}</ref> As a result of this behavior, male dragonets suffer higher mortality rates than females do after attaining maturation.<ref name="Sex ratio">{{cite journal|last=Ikejima|first=Kou|author2=Makoto Shimizu|title=Sex ratio in the dragonet, ''Repomucenus valenciennei''|journal=Ichthyological Research |year=1999|volume=46|issue=4|pages=426–428|doi=10.1007/bf02673986|s2cid=38779696 }}</ref> The highest mortality rates in adult males occur during breeding. Males have evolved larger bodies, as well as longer spines and rays, in order to achieve dominance in reproduction. They have also developed bright colors so as to more effectively compete for female attention. These [[secondary sex characteristics]] further reduce the survival potential of male dragonets, as they increase the risk of predation, require greater energy costs, and escalate the risk of suffering injuries.<ref name=Maturation/>