Aggressive behavior of female red-backed salamanders
Horne EA. 1988. Aggressive behavior of female red-backed salamanders. Herpetologica. 44(2):203-209
Male and non-gravid (non-courting) female red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) are known to defend individual territories in the laboratory during non-courtship periods, but it is not known whether gravid (courting) females maintain such territories. I compared the agonistic behavior of known territorial non-gravid females to that of gravid females. Gravid, non-gravid, and male intruders were introduced into chambers defended by gravid or non-gravid females, and the behavioral responses of residents were compared. Gravid and non-gravid females did not differ in aggressive behavior toward any of the three types of intruders but did show some differences in submissive behavior toward intruders. Male intruders faced with gravid and non-gravid residents showed differences in the time spent in the burrow and in escape behavior. Similar behavior patterns of both types of females provide evidence that gravid females maintain their territories throughout the breeding season. However, gravid females shared their burrows with intruding males more frequently than non-gravid females.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Horne, Eva
- Units
- SHEN
- Keywords
- Animal Behavior, Animal Communities (Wildlife), Animal Studies, Eastern Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), Research Report