COURTSHIP IN THE ROUGH-SKINNED NEWT TARICHA-GRANULOSA

Courtship was studied in the rough-skinned newt, Taricha granulosa. Newt sexual behaviour included pre-insemination, insemination and post-insemination stages. During the pre-insemination stage, behaviour of the male and female changed concomitatly. Male hind limb contraction rate increased as females became more receptive (lowered-head position to raised-head position). The preinsemination stage of courtship lasted a median of 7 h. Of first sperm transfer attempts, 89·5% culminated in successful insemination. After insemination, females no longer were receptive in response to courtship; although pre-insemination courtship and insemination inhibited receptivity in 40% of the females, preinsemination courtship, insemination and post-insemination amplexus inhibited receptivity in 100% of famales tested. This unique result demonstrates that post-insemination association may ensure paternity through inhibiting female sexual receptivity. © 1991 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.