Advertisement

The Evolution of Courtship Behavior in New World Salamanders with Some Comments on Old World Salamandrids

  • Stevan J. Arnold
Chapter

Abstract

Salamander courtship has been the subject of several recent reviews (Joly 1966; Organ and Organ 1968; Salthe 1967; Salthe and Mecham 1974). These reviews introduce the reader to the extensive descriptive literature on salamander courtship and provide some interesting speculations about the phylogeny of sexual behavior. Since macroevolution of salamander courtship has been reviewed recently, I will focus, instead, on the sexual dynamics of populations and on the selective pressures that stabilize and direct the course of behavioral evolution.

Keywords

Courtship Behavior Sperm Transfer Plethodontid Salamander Mental Gland Genial Gland 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Anderson, J. D. 1961. The courtship behavior of Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum. Copeia 1961(2):132–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. Anderson, J. D. 1970. Description of the spermatophore of Ambystoma tigrinum. Herpetologica 26(3):304–308.Google Scholar
  3. Arnold, S. J. 1972. The evolution of courtship behavior in salamanders. Ph. D. dissertation, University of Michigan, 570 p.Google Scholar
  4. Arnold, S. J. 1976. Sexual behavior, sexual interference and sexual defense in the salamanders Ambystoma maculatum, Ambystoma tigrinum and Plethodon jordani. Z. Tierpsychol. 42: 247–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. Baker, C. L., L. C. Baker and M. F. Caldwell. 1947. Observation of copulation in Amphiuma tridactylum. J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 22: 77–87.Google Scholar
  6. Bedriaga, J. 1882a. Über die Begattung bei einigen geschwänzten Amphibien. Zool. Anz. 5:265–268.Google Scholar
  7. Bedriaga, J. 1882b. Über die Begattung bei einigen geschwänzten Amphibien. Zool. Anz. 5:357–359.Google Scholar
  8. Bishop, S. C. 1926. Notes on the habits and development of the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus (Rafinesque). N. Y. State Mus. Bull. No. 268: 60 pp.Google Scholar
  9. Blanchard, F. N. 1930. The stimulus to the breeding migration of the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum (Shaw). Am. Nat. 64: 154–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. Brame, A. H., Jr. 1968. Systematics and evolution of the Mesoamerican salamander genus Oedipina. J. Herpetol. 2 (1-2): 1–64.Google Scholar
  11. Brandon, R. A. 1970. Courtship, spermatophores and eggs of the Mexican Achoque, Ambystoma (Bathysiredon) dumerili (Dugès) Zool J. Linn. Soc. 49: 247–254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. Breder, R. C. 1927. Courtship of the spotted salamander. Bull. N. Y. Zool. Soc. 30: 3.Google Scholar
  13. Briegleb, W. 1962. Zur Biologie und Ökologie des Grottenolms (Pro -teus anguineus Leur. 1768). Zeit. Morph. Ökol. Tiere 51:271–334.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. Cedrini, L. and A. Fasolo. 1971. Olfactory attractants in sex recognition of the crested newt. An electrophysiological research. Monit. Zool. Ital. (N. S.) 5:223–229.Google Scholar
  15. Cope, E. D.. 1889. The batrachia of North America. U. S. Nat. Mus. (34): 5–525.Google Scholar
  16. Dähne, C. 1926. Die Copula bei Euproctus asper Dug. Blätter Aquar.-Terrar. Kde. 37: 198–201.Google Scholar
  17. Davis, W. C. and V. C. TwiLLy. 1964. Courtship behavior and reproductive isolation in the species of Taricha (Amphibia, Caudata). Copeia 1964 (4): 601–610.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. Despax, R. 1923. Contribution à l’étude anatominique et biologique batraciens urodèles du groupe des Euproctus, et specialement de l’euprocte des Pyrenees. Thèse Facult. Sci. Paris, 258 pp.Google Scholar
  19. Dunn, E. R. 1923. The breeding habits of salamanders and their bearing on phylogeny. Copeia 1923 (115): 25–27.Google Scholar
  20. Dunn, E. R. 1926. The salamanders of the family Plethodontidae. Smith College, Mass., 441 pp.Google Scholar
  21. Gallien, L. 1953. Elevage et comportment du Pleurodele au laboratoire. Bull. Soc. Zool. France 77:456–461.Google Scholar
  22. Garton, J. S. 1972. Courtship of the small mouthed salamander Ambystoma texanum, in southern Illinois. Herpetologica 28: 41–45.Google Scholar
  23. Gasco, F. 1881. Les amours des axolotls. Bull. Soc. Zool. France 6:151–164.Google Scholar
  24. Häfeli, H. P. 1971. Zur Fortpflanzungsbiologie des Alpensalaman-ders (Salamandra atra Leur.). Rev. Suisse de Zoologie 78(2): 235–293.Google Scholar
  25. Halliday, T. R. 1972. A Study of Behaviour of Newts. D. Phil. Thesis, Oxford Univ.Google Scholar
  26. Halliday, T. R. 1974. Sexual behaviour of the smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris (Urodela, Salamandridae). J. Herpetol. 8 (4): 277–292.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  27. Halliday, T. R. 1975. An observational and experimental study of sexual behaviour in the smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris (Amphibia: Salamandridae). Anim. Behay. 23(2):291–322.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  28. Halliday, T. R. 1976. The libidinous newt. An analysis of variations in the sexual behaviour of the male smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris. Anim. Behay. 24(2):398–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  29. Halliday, T. R. 1977. The effects of experimental manipulation of breathing behaviour on the sexual behaviour of the smooth newt, Triturus vulgaris. Anim. Behay. 25:39–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  30. Halliday, T. R. and H. P. A. Sweatman. 1976. To breathe or not to breathe; the newt’s problem. Anim. Behay. 24:551–561.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  31. Highton, R. 1962. Revision of North American salamanders of the genus Plethodon. Bull. Florida State Museum 6(3):235–367.Google Scholar
  32. Highton, R. 1970. Evolutionary interactions between species of North American salamanders of the genus Plethodon. Part 1. Genetic and ecological relationships of Plethodon jordani and P. glutinosus in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Evol. Biol. 4:211–241. Appleton-Century-Crofts, New York.Google Scholar
  33. Hilton, W. A. 1902. A structure connected with the mating of Diemyctylus viridescens. Am. Nat. 36: 643–651.Google Scholar
  34. Humphries, A. A., Jr. 1955. Observations on the mating behavior of normal and pituitary-implanted Triturus viridescens. Physiol. Zool. 28(1):73–79.Google Scholar
  35. Hutchison, V. C. 1959. Aggressive behavior in Plethodon jordani. Copeia 1959(1):72–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  36. Joly, J. 1966. Sur l’ethologie sexuelle de Salamandra salamandra L. Zeit. Tierpsychol. 23(1):8–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  37. Jordan, E. O. 1891. The spermatophores of Diemyctylus. Jour. Morph. 5:263–270.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  38. Kawamura, T. and S. Sawada. 1959. On the sexual isolation among different species and local races of Japanese newts. J. Sci. Hiroshima Univ. ser B. div. 1 18: 17–31.Google Scholar
  39. Kerbert, C. 1904. Zur Fortpflanzung von Megalobatrachus maximus Schlegel. Zool. Anz. 27(10):305–320.Google Scholar
  40. Knudsen, J. W. 1960. The courtship and egg mass of Ambystoma gracile and Ambystoma macrodactylum. Copeia 1960(1):44-46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  41. Kumpf, K. F. 1934. The courtship of Ambystoma tigrinum. Copeia 1934(1):7–10.Google Scholar
  42. Kumpf, K. F. and S. C. Yeaton. 1932. Observations on the courtship behavior of Ambystoma jeffersonianum. Am. Mus. Novit. 546:1–7.Google Scholar
  43. Lanza, B. 1959. Il corpo ghiandolare mentoniero dei Plethodontidae (Amphibia, Caudata). Monit. Zool. Ital. 67:15–53.Google Scholar
  44. Licht, L. E. 1969. Observations on the courtship behavior of Ambystoma gracile. Herpetologica 25(1):49–52.Google Scholar
  45. Maynard Smith, J. 1974. The theory of games and the evolution of animal conflicts. J. Theor. Biol. 47:209–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  46. Mohr, C. E. 1930. The ambystomid salamanders of Pennsylvania. Proc. Penn. Acad. Sci. 4:50–55.Google Scholar
  47. Noble, G. K. 1927a. The plethodontid salamanders; some aspects of their evolution. Am. Mus. Novit. 249:1–26.Google Scholar
  48. Noble, G. K. 1927b. The value of life history data in the study of the evolution of the amphibia. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 30: 31–128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. Noble, G. K. 1929. The relations of courtship to secondary sex characters of the two-line salamander, Eurycea bislineata (Green). Am. Mus. Novit. 362:1–5.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  50. Noble, G. K. and M. K. Brady. 1930. The courtship of the plethodontid salamanders. Copeia 1930 (2): 52–54.Google Scholar
  51. Noble, G. K. and M. K. Brady. 1933. Observations on the life history of the marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum Gravenhorst. Zoologica (N. Y.) 11 (8): 89–132.Google Scholar
  52. Noble, G. K. and S. H. Pope. 1929. The modification of the cloaca and teeth of the adult salamander, Desmognathus, by testicular transplants and by castration. Brit. J. Exper. Biol. 6(4):399–411.Google Scholar
  53. Organ, J. A. 1958. Courtship and spermatophore of Plethodon jordani metcalfi. Copeia 1958(4):251–259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. Organ, J. A. 1960a. The courtship and spermatophore of the salamander Plethodon glutinosus. Copeia 1960(1):34–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  55. Organ, J. A. 1960b. Studies on the life history of the salamander Plethodon welleri. Copeia 1960(4):287–297.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. Organ, J. A. 1961a. Studies on the local distribution, life history, and population dynamics of the salamander genus Desmognathus in Virginia. Ecol. Monog. 31:189–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  57. Organ, J. A. 1961b. Life history of the pygmy salamander, Desmognathus wrighti,in Virginia. Am. Midl. Nat. 66:384–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  58. Organ, J. A. and D. J. Organ. 1968. Courtship behavior of the red salamander Pseudotriton ruber. Copeia 1968(2):217–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. Rehberg, F. 1962. Beobachtungen über die Fortpflanzung des Hyno-bius nebulosus. Mitteilungsblatt Salamander Ges. für Terrarinfr. Buchloe. 9: 62–63.Google Scholar
  60. Ritter, W. E. 1897. Diemyctylus torosus Esch. The life history and habits of the Pacific Coast newt. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. (III) Zool. 1(2):73–114.Google Scholar
  61. Rogoff, J. L. 1927. The hedonic glands of Triturus viridescens; a structural and morphological study. Anat. Rec. 34:132–133.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  62. Salthe, S. N. 1967. Courtship patterns and phylogeny of the Lrodeles. Copeia 1967 (1): 100–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  63. Salthe, S. N. and J. S. Mecham. 1974. Reproductive and courtship patterns. IN: B. Lofts (ed.), The Physiology of Amphibia, Vol. II, pp. 309-521. Academic Press.Google Scholar
  64. Salthe, S. N. and B. M. Salthe. 1964. Induced courtship in the salamander Pseudoeurycea belli. Copeia 1964(3):574–576.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  65. Sasaki, M. 1924. On a Japanese salamander in Lake Kuttarush which propogates like the axolotl. J. Coll. Agric. Hokkaido Imp. Univ. 15: 12–23.Google Scholar
  66. Sawada, S. 1963. Studies on the local races of the Japanese newt, Triturus pyrrhogaster Bole, II. Secual isolation mechanisms. J. Sci. Hiroshima Univ. ser. B. div. 1. 21: 167–180.Google Scholar
  67. Schaller, F. 1971. Indirect sperm transfer by soil arthropods. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 16:407–446.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  68. Sever, D. M. 1975. Morphological and seasonal variation of the mental hedonic glands of the dwarf salamander, Eurycea quadridigitata (Holbrook). Herpetologica 31 (3): 241–251.Google Scholar
  69. Sever, D. M. 1976. Morphology of the mental hedonic gland clusters of plethodontid salamanders (Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae). J. Herpetol. 10 (3): 227–239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  70. Shoop, C. R. 1960. The breeding habits of the mole salamander, Ambystoma talpoideum (Holbrook), in southeastern Louisiana. Tulane Stud. Zool. 8:65–82.Google Scholar
  71. Smith, B. G. 1907. The life history and habits of Cryptobranchus allegheniensis.Biol. Bull.13:5–39.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  72. Smith, B. G. 1910. Smith, The structure of the spermatophores of Ambystoma. Punctatum. Biol. Bull. 18 (4): 204–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  73. Smith, R. E. 1941. Mating behavior in Triturus torosus and related newts. Copeia 1941 (4): 255–262.Google Scholar
  74. Spotila, J. R. and R. J. Beumer. 1970. The breeding habits of the ringed salamander, Ambystoma annulatum (Cope), in northeastern Arkansas. Am. Midl. Nat. 84:77–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  75. Stebbins, R. C. 1949. Courtship of the plethodontid salamander Ensatina eschscholtzii. Copeia 1949(4):247–281.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  76. Stewart, M. M. 1958. Seasonal variation in the teeth of the two-lined salamander. Copeia 1958 (3): 190–196.Google Scholar
  77. Storez, R. A. 1969. Observations on the courtship of Ambystoma laterale. J. Herpetol. 3 (1-2): 87–95.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  78. Thorn, R. 1962. Protection of the brood by a male salamander, Hynobius nebulosus. Copeia 1962(3):638–640.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  79. Thorn, R. 1963. Contribution à l’étude d’une salamandre japonaise, l’Hynobius nebulosus (Schlegel). Comportement et reproduction en captivité. Inst. Gr.-Duc. Luxembourg, Sect. Sci. nat. phys. math., Archives (N. S.) 29: 201–215.Google Scholar
  80. Thorn, R. 1966. Nouvelles observations sur l’éthologie sexuelle de l’Hynobius nebulosus (temminck et Schlegel) (Caudate, Hynobiidae). Inst. Gr.-Duc. Luxembourg, Sect. Sci. nat. phys. math., Archives (N. S.S 32: 267–271.Google Scholar
  81. Thurow, G. 1976. Aggression and competition in Eastern Plethodon Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae). J. Herpetol. 10(4):277–291.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  82. Tinbergen, N. 1953. Social Behaviour in Animals. Methuen. London.Google Scholar
  83. Tsutsui, Y. 1931. Notes on the behavior of the common Japanese newt Diemyctylus pyrrhogaster Boie. I. Breeding habit. Mem. Coll. Sci. Kyoto Imp. Univ., ser. B. 7 (4): 159–178.Google Scholar
  84. Twitty, V. C. 1955. Field experiments on the biology and genetic relationships of the California species of Triturus. J. Exp. Zool. 129(1):129—148.Google Scholar
  85. Twitty, V. C. 1961a. Experiments on homing behavior and speciation in Taricha. IN: W. F. Blair (ed.), Vertebrate Speciation, pp. 415 - 459. Univ. Texas Press, Austin.Google Scholar
  86. Twitty, V. C. 1961b. Second-generation hybrids of the species of Taricha. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 47(9):1461—1486.Google Scholar
  87. Uzzell, T. M. 1964. Relations of the diploid and triploid species of the Ambystoma jeffersonianum complex (Amphibia, Caudata). Copeia 1964 (2): 257–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  88. Uzzell, T. M. 1969. Notes on spermatophore production by salamanders of the Ambystoma jeffersonianum complex (Amphibia, Caudate). Copeia 1969 (3): 602–612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  89. Wake, D. B. 1966. Comparative osteology and evolution of the lung-less salamanders, family Plethodontidae. Mem. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 4: 1–111.Google Scholar
  90. Wake, D. B. and N. Ozeti. 1969. Evolutionary relationships in the family Salamandridae. Copeia 1969 (1): 124–137.Google Scholar
  91. Wyman, R. L. 1971. The courtship behavior of the small-mouthed salamander, Ambystoma texanum. Herpetologica 27(4):491–498.Google Scholar
  92. Zeller, E. 1890. über die Befruchtung bei den Urodelen. Zeit. f. wissen. Zool. 49:583–601.Google Scholar
  93. Zeller, E. 1905. Untersuchungen über die Samentr?ger und den Kloakenwulst der Tritonen. Zeit. f. wissen. Zool. 79:171–221.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 1977

Authors and Affiliations

  • Stevan J. Arnold
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of BiologyUniversity of ChicagoChicagoUSA

Personalised recommendations

Cite chapter

Buy options