Male Tail Loss and Courtship Success in the Plethodontid Salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus

1982 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynne D. Houck
1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara Shillington ◽  
Paul Verrell

AbstractMale mate choice for particular "classes" of females may be devalued if chosen females are more likely to mate with multiple partners (thus precipitating sperm competition). Larger females carry greater numbers of eggs available for fertilization in the plethodontid salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeus, and are chosen by males in simultaneous mate-choice tests. We found no difference in mating frequency between 12 large females and 12 smaller females across 576 male-female encounters. Given limited published data on patterns of sperm utilization in this salamander, we conclude that male choice of more fecund partners may be advantageous even in the face of multiple mating by females and resultant sperm competition. Studies of natural populations of salamanders are required to confirm this conclusion.


1994 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2751-2759 ◽  
Author(s):  
William I. Lutterschmidt ◽  
Glenn A. Marvin ◽  
Victor H. Hutchison

1988 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélène Francillon-Vieillot ◽  
Lynne D. Houck

AbstractWe used the skeletochronological method to obtain estimates of age for male Desmognathus ochrophaeus (Urodela: Plethodontidae). Age estimates were compared with body size and with a measure of matiing success obtained from an earlier study. Body size is significantly correlated with age, but there is much variation in age among animals having the same body size. Mating success was not significantly correlated either with size or age when males had equal access to potentially receptive females.


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