Honoring the Best Ocean Dads this Father’s Day
With all of the extraordinary mothers of the natural world, it seems that fathers are often overlooked. Let’s face it—some dads don’t get the credit they deserve.
The ocean is full of fascinating creatures, and you’d be surprised at how some underwater dads are bending gender stereotypes and giving a whole new meaning to fatherhood. With Father’s Day coming up, we are celebrating some of these super-dads of the sea.
Seahorse
Shutterstock.com/Choi Ka KwanMale seahorses are the only known male animal on the planet that give birth.
Perhaps the most recognized dad in the animal kingdom, the seahorse is known for going above and beyond in the role of fatherhood. Not only are they monogamous, staying faithful to one partner during reproductive season, but they are one of the only species in which the male carries and delivers its babies.
The father carries up to 2,000 babies in his pouch, protecting them, caring for them and preparing them for life at sea. When the young, known as “fry,” are ready to be born, the male undergoes muscular contractions to expel them into the open water.
Cardinalfish
Shutterstock.com/Oltre Lo SpecchioMale cardinalfish carry their eggs in their mouth, going up to a month without food to do so.
A male cardinalfish incubates his eggs by holding them in his mouth, a process known as mouth brooding. The father does not feed during this time, which can last up to 30 days. His activities are restricted to protecting the eggs, juggling them in his mouth to provide air, and ejecting any dead eggs. Although cardinalfish show the highest level of fatherly dedication during this time, once the eggs hatch, they are on their own and receive no further paternal care.
Emperor Penguin
Shutterstock.com/vladsilverMale Emperor Penguins go months without eating while protecting their eggs from the blistering Arctic cold.
There are few fathers—animal or human—who show the level of dedication that emperor penguins do. After the female lays her egg, she turns over parental responsibility to the male. While she returns to the ocean to feed, the father is responsible for keeping the egg safe and warm by balancing it carefully on his feet, not letting it touch the ice below.
For two long, cold months, the male penguins sleep standing up and don’t eat, huddling together for warmth. Where the penguins breed in Antarctica, temperatures can drop passed 31 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, and freezing winds can bluster at more than 60 miles per hour. But if you’ve ever seen a baby penguin, you know they are worth the effort!
Clownfish
Shutterstock.com/Jenny Lord'Finding Nemo' nailed it—clownfish dads care deeply about their kids!
Clownfish dads have a special hormone, similar to oxytocin in humans, that facilitates bonding between them and their offspring. As a result, they go to great lengths to support their young, constantly cleaning the anemone and fanning their fins to keep oxygen-rich water flowing over the eggs. Their parenting instincts are so strong that a bachelor clownfish will even care for eggs from an unrelated nest.
As we celebrate Father’s Day, let’s not forget about these great fathers of the sea! From braving freezing temperatures to giving up food, these doting dads deserve our recognition and appreciation.
