If you're wondering who the sea's best dad is, look no further than the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, as the Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis) undoubtedly takes the prize.
Its scientific name, Abudefduf saxatilis, partially translates to "father that lives among rocks," a name that it emphatically lives up to. On top of building the nest for his young, this father is known to fiercely defend its eggs during the entire embryonic development; an arduous task, as female sergeant majors lay up to 200,000 eggs at a time. This is a trait that is quite specific to fish of the Family Pomacentridae to which the sergeant major belongs, as most reef fishes release their eggs and allow them to float freely until they hatch. The species is also known to form large nesting colonies, which makes nests easier to defend from predators.
The work does not end when the eggs hatch, as male sergeant majors continue to defend their young until they can do so on their own. These fathers mirror traits seen by their human counterparts on land; doing whatever is necessary to protect their young.
Much like this fish is to be admired, the Barbados Fisheries Division wishes a Happy Father's Day to all fathers and those who play the important role!
Featured image photo credit: Matther T. Radder