catadromousbehavior

noun
UK /kəˈtædrəməs bɪˈheɪvjə/
US /kəˈtædrəməs bɪˈheɪvjər/

A way of acting where an animal lives in fresh water but goes to the sea to have babies.

The eel's catadromous behavior means it swims downstream to the ocean to lay its eggs.

SYNONYMS

downstream migrationsea-spawning habitfreshwater-to-sea movementdownstream spawning behavior

RELATED WORDS

eelmigrationspawninganadromouslife cycle

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The pattern of moving from a river to the sea as part of an animal's life cycle.

Scientists tracked the fish's catadromous behavior along the whole river.

3. A habit of living in lakes or rivers and traveling to salt water to breed.

The catadromous behavior of these shrimp helps their young grow in the open sea.

4. Any repeated journey from inland water to the ocean for reproduction.

Researchers noted the catadromous behavior of the crabs each autumn.