buccal incubation (mouth brooding) The incubation of eggs in the mouth of one of the parents. In a number of species of fish, the male or the female carries the fertilized eggs in the mouth until some time after hatching. During incubation the parent involved takes no food, and so may appear rather lean at the end of the incubation period.

buccal incubation(mouth brooding) The incubation of eggs in the mouth of one of the parents. In a number of species of fish, the male or the female carries the fertilized eggs in the mouth until some time after hatching. During incubation the parent involved takes no food, and so may appear rather lean at the end of the incubation period.