SEXUAL INTERFERENCE IN THE SWORD-TAILED NEWT, CYNOPS ENSICAUDA POPEI (AMPHIBIA, SALAMANDRIDAE)

Authors
Citation
M. Sparreboom, SEXUAL INTERFERENCE IN THE SWORD-TAILED NEWT, CYNOPS ENSICAUDA POPEI (AMPHIBIA, SALAMANDRIDAE), Ethology, 102(8), 1996, pp. 672-685
Citations number
46
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology, Biological",Zoology,"Behavioral Sciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
0179-1613
Volume
102
Issue
8
Year of publication
1996
Pages
672 - 685
Database
ISI
SICI code
0179-1613(1996)102:8<672:SIITSN>2.0.ZU;2-8
Abstract
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.