An Instance of Sexual Defense in the Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus

The significance of sound interception to males of the bicolor damselfish,Pomacentrus partitus, during courtship

“…To prevent the loss of, or to gain a possible spawning partner, the interceptor should move directly to the sound source, as has been shown in frogs (Wells 1977, Fellers 1979, and cowbirds (Rothstein et al 1988), and then attempt to prevent mating. Sexual interference has been observed among many animal groups, e.g., insects (Waage 1973), reptiles (Martin 1984), amphibians (Arnold 1976, Wells 1977, Fellers 1979, Verrell 1984, 1988, and mammals (Cox & LeBoeuf 1977, Wirtz 1981, Hauser 1990). Fishes are no exception.…”

Predatory combat and tail wrestling in hierarchical contests of the Neotropical rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus (Serpentes: Viperidae)

“…The male snakes were designated according to their final hierarchical status (a the dominant and 0, A and -y the subordinates). The terminology used for describing and discussing the ritualized combats was based on that proposed by Wilson (1975), Carpenter et al (1976), Martin (1984) and Gillingham (1987) and will be cited always in quotation marks. In the text, means are followed by the standard deviation.…”