Courtship, mating and agonistic behaviour in a free-living population of adders, Vipera berus (L.)

Andrén, Claes

doi:10.1163/156853886x00172

Cited by 58 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…Considering that (1) male slow worms combat vigorously during the mating season for access to the females (Smith, 1951;Malkmus, 1995;Capula et al, unpublished data), (2) the blue-spotted morph is a typical male colouration, and (3) the blue spots are more conspicuous during the mating season (Naulleau, 1980; this study), we suggest that the blue-spotted colouration has a communication value and may increase life-time reproductive success in male slow worms. Moreover, if we hypothesize that male size is a crucial determinant of individual reproductive success during the mating season (as previously observed in other squamates; Andren, 1986;Olsson, 1992;Luiselli, 1995Luiselli, , 1996, it would be clear that the blue-spotted colouration occurs usually in large individuals with high contest success. It could be speculated that the value of the blue-spotted colouration is to communicate 'superiority' to potential rivals during the mating season.…”

Section: What Function (If Any) Does the Blue-spotted Colouration Serve?supporting

confidence: 53%

The blue‐spotted morph of the slow worm,Anguis fragilis:Colour polymorphism and predation risks

Capula¹,

Luiselli²,

Capanna³

1997

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Blue-spotted individuals are found in many populations of the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) throughout Europe. The frequency of occurrence of this colour morph was studied in eight populations from a mountainous territory of northeastern Italy (Tarvisio Forest, Carnic Alps, 750-1600 m a.s.l.). Blue-spotted individuals were very rare (0.8% of the total sample; n = 744). However, the population inhabiting the town of Tarvisio presented a significantly higher proportion of blue-spotted individuals than did the other sampled populations. All the blue-spotted individuals were adult males of large size (average SVL = 173.5 ± 6.8 mm), with heavy body (average body mass = 41 ± 6 g), while the sole blue-spotted animal captured in Valais was subadult. The presence of blue-spotted animals within a population was apparently not correlated with habitat type, altitude and latitude, but was positively correlated with increase of longitude from Greenwich (Spearman's r = 0.73, n = 8, P = 0.038). A predation experiment with model slow worms demonstrated that the blue-spotted individuals suffered higher risks of predation than normal coloured ones. Taking into account the result of this experiment, and considering that (1) the frequency of occurrence of the blue-spotted males within populations was inversely correlated with the proportion of individuals with broken tails (Spearman's r = -0.91, n = 8, P = 0.002), and that (2) higher frequencies of broken tails may mean higher risks of prédation for natural lizard populations, we conclude that blue-spotted individuals should be rare in the areas where the density of potential predators is high. It is also suggested that the blue-spotted colouration may be intrasexually selected for augmenting the individual success of male slow worms in sexual contexts.

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Section: What Function (If Any) Does the Blue-spotted Colouration Serve?supporting

confidence: 53%

The blue‐spotted morph of the slow worm,Anguis fragilis:Colour polymorphism and predation risks

Capula¹,

Luiselli²,

Capanna³

1997

Italian Journal of Zoology

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“…Courtship in rattlesnakes is characterized by chin rubbing and/or intertwining of the animals' tails. Male pit vipers engage in male to male combat to compete for females (Andren, 1986;Cartpenter, 1977). Combat was defined as two or more males elevating the anterior portion of their body and attempting to force the competitor's head towards the ground.…”

Section: Behaviormentioning

confidence: 99%

The relationship between plasma steroid hormone concentrations and the reproductive cycle in the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus

Lind

Husak

Eikenaar

et al. 2010

General and Comparative Endocrinology

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The Relationship Between Plasma Steroid Hormone Concentrations and the Reproductive Cycle in the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganusCraig M. LindTo gain a better understanding of the role of steroid hormones in vertebrate reproduction, we quantified steroid hormone concentrations in a free ranging population of the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus. Plasma steroid hormone concentrations were quantified for both male and female snakes throughout the active season (Mar-Oct). We measured testosterone (T), 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and corticosterone (B) concentrations in male and female snakes. 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were measured in females only. We also observed breeding behaviors (e.g. consortship, courtship, and copulation) in the field and measured testis and follicle size in male and female snakes from museum collections. Our results indicate that C. oreganus in central California utilizes a bimodal pattern of breeding, with mating and agonistic behavior occurring in the spring and the late summer/fall. Each breeding season corresponds with elevated or highly variable androgen (T and DHT) levels. Several female snakes had high E2 concentrations in the spring and fall, coincident with vitellogenesis and mating. Females with high E2 concentrations also had high T and DHT concentrations. Corticosterone concentrations in males are not related to either time of year or concentrations of any other hormones quantified. This suggests that the breeding season in this population may not demand a significant increase in energy mobilization by glucocorticoids. Measurements of testis volume show that testes are regressed in the spring when the majority of breeding was observed in this population and reach peak volume in August and September during spermatogenesis. Multiple regression analyses revealed that in female snakes, P is positively correlated with T and DHT, and E2 is correlated with T. Since these results are strictly descriptive, experimental studies are needed to identify the functional significance of these results.

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“…Adult male adders engage in vigorous combat bouts during the mating season, with larger males driving smaller individuals away from receptive females (Andren, 1986;Madsen, 1988). Hence, there is the potential for brothers to compete with each other for mating opportunities.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Competition Among Brothers May Influence Offspring Sex Ratio in Snakes

Madsen

Shine

1992

Evolution

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Courtship, mating and agonistic behaviour in a free-living population of adders, Vipera berus (L.)

Cited by 58 publications

References 0 publications

The blue‐spotted morph of the slow worm,Anguis fragilis:Colour polymorphism and predation risks

The blue‐spotted morph of the slow worm,Anguis fragilis:Colour polymorphism and predation risks

The relationship between plasma steroid hormone concentrations and the reproductive cycle in the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, Crotalus oreganus

Sexual Competition Among Brothers May Influence Offspring Sex Ratio in Snakes

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