Territorial behaviour in southern red-backed and Ozark zigzag salamanders: effects of sex, species and ownership

Abstract

When both males and females are territorial, spatial and aggressive behaviour can vary between the sexes. We examined differences in exploratory and competitive behaviour between males and females and residents and intruders of two species, the Ozark zigzag (P. angusticlavius) and southern red-backed (P. serratus) salamanders. For exploratory behaviour, males and females differed in distance traveled based on species, but females of both species were significantly more cautious than males about leaving territories. In competition trials, male and female territory residents (owners) did not differ in defensive behaviour, but female intruders were more aggressive than male intruders. Overall, P. angusticlavius showed more aggressive behaviour, explored more, and were less cautious about leaving territories than P. serratus. Female intruders of both species fight harder, potentially to gain territories, and are more cautious about leaving territories, which may indicate that the cost of not having a territory is greater for females.

A new arboreal Pseudoeurycea (Caudata: Plethodontidae) from the Sierra de Zongolica, Veracruz, Mexico

“…Intraspecific antagonistic behavior. Antagonistic behavior between individuals in a population has been described in several species of plethodontid salamanders (Jaeger and Forester 1993;Staub 1993;Lynn et al 2019). However, this behavior has been little studied or observed in Mexican plethodontids.…”