Premature sperm ejaculation in captive African brown house snakeLamprophis fuliginosus

Sexual conflict over mating in red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) as indicated by experimental manipulation of genitalia

“…This is unsurprising given that the basal spine is absent in non-natricine snakes, which have functional hemipenes [54 -58]. However, the spine allowed a better fit between male and female genitalia, because spine-ablated males often appeared to be farther outside the female cloaca (CR , but males begin inseminating females almost immediately upon eversion and prior to plug formation [11,31]. Males who were unable to make a plug, may therefore still gain some fertilizations, but with the shortened copulation duration in this species versus other snakes [31,59], the plug became necessary to prevent sperm leakage [32] and a potential source of sexual conflict.…”

“…However, the spine allowed a better fit between male and female genitalia, because spine-ablated males often appeared to be farther outside the female cloaca (CR Friesen 2009, 2011, & PLR Brennan, 2011, personal observation). Full eversion and inflation of the hemipene takes place a few seconds after copulation begins (CR Friesen 2009, 2011, PLR Brennan, 2011 & RT Mason 1999-2011, personal observation), but males begin inseminating females almost immediately upon eversion and prior to plug formation [11,31]. Males who were unable to make a plug, may therefore still gain some fertilizations, but with the shortened copulation duration in this species versus other snakes [31,59], the plug became necessary to prevent sperm leakage [32] and a potential source of sexual conflict.…”

“…When the female is ready to mate, she gapes her cloaca so copulation can occur. Mating is effectively random with respect to male size in the large aggregations of males (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24) a female encounters as she emerges [25,26]. Females, therefore, do not seem able to choose larger, fitter males prior to copulation (garter snakes exhibit indeterminate growth, thus large males are successful at foraging and evading predators [27,28]).…”

“…For females, copulation times beyond those required for optimal sperm transfer may be detrimental owing to decreased ability to choose other mates as fathers of her offspring [7 -9], increased risk of injury and predation, and/or decreased feeding rates [10]. Therefore, females are expected to favour shorter copulations especially if sperm transfer occurs quickly [11]. For males, however, longer copulations can serve not only to transfer more sperm, but also to mate-guard the female, thus males are expected to typically favour longer copulations than females.…”

The past, present and future of African herpetology

“…Equally, the molecular approach can be used to provide biogeographical insight into species boundaries (Perera et al 2011). Novel studies and observations on behaviour and distribution can have important implications for conservation (Martín et al 2011;Wilmes et al 2011;Channing & Wahlberg 2011;Yetman & Ferguson 2011;Tessa et al 2011;Measey et al 2011), which has become an important aspect of African herpetology as habitat destruction continues unabated in areas that have been poorly explored. In addition to habitat destruction, anthropogenic impact on African herpetofauna can be more direct in areas where reptiles and amphibians are used as food (Mohneke et al 2011).…”