This paper describes competitive interaction between males of the sala
mandrid Cynops ensicauda popei. The sexual behaviour of the male is in
fluenced by the presence of a second, rival, male. Competition for acc
ess to the female and other male interactions continuously interrupt o
ngoing courtships. Spermatophore pick-up success is lower than in enco
unters involving single pairs. During triad encounters, fewer spermato
phores were deposited than in dyad encounters, due to interference dur
ing the creep stage of courtship. Two basic forms of male sexual inter
ference were distinguished: 'lure away' during the creeping stage, fro
m a position that is different from the direction of creep; and 'femal
e mimicry', during which the male presses Ms snout alternately against
the courting male's tail and the female's snout. In both forms, a riv
al male may shove one of the courting individuals away. The repertoire
of sexual behaviour patterns of Cynops ensicauda popei appears to be
less complex and varied than that of most Triturus species. The courts
hip of Cynops places less emphasis on display behaviour with tail and
body, and a stronger emphasis on the creeping stage, where the male ca
refully leads the responsive female over a series of spermatophores, b
ut during which rival males may interfere in a variety of ways.