Reproductive behaviour of the Chinhai Salamander (Echinotriton chinhaiensis) (Caudata: Salamandridae)

Abstract

Abstract. The Chinhai Salamander, Echinotriton chinhaiensis, mates on land. The male of a courting pair marks a trail by a mucous excretion from his cloaca. The pair follows an ellipsoid track during which manoeuvre a spermatophore is deposited. Partners align their bodies such that the female is led over the spermatophore. Clasping was not observed. The female traces the spermatophore with her cloaca through shifting movements with the pelvic region. A male may deposit several spermatophores on one evening. The courtship is compared to that in the genus Tylototriton.

Male Courtship Behavior of Tylototriton (Echinotriton) andersoni Boulenger under Laboratory Conditions

“…However, the male indiscriminately exhibited courtship behavior toward females from different localities. Sparreboom et al (2001), on the basis of captive observations, reported mating behavior of T. (E.) chinhaiensis, which was basically similar to that reported here for T. (E.) andersoni with respect to the male behavior up to the stage of spermatophore deposition. In both species, for example, the male, after sniffing the female, marks a trail around her by excreting mucous from his cloaca, and finally deposits the spermatophore without clasping her.…”

“…In both species, for example, the male, after sniffing the female, marks a trail around her by excreting mucous from his cloaca, and finally deposits the spermatophore without clasping her. Like male T. (E.) andersoni, male T. (E.) chinhaiensis may deposit several spermatophores in one evening (Sparreboom et al, 2001). Sparreboom et al (2001) observed the trailmarking by mucous excretion from the male's cloaca in T. (E.) chinhaiensis, and assumed the behavior to be a remarkable feature of this species.…”

“…Like male T. (E.) andersoni, male T. (E.) chinhaiensis may deposit several spermatophores in one evening (Sparreboom et al, 2001). Sparreboom et al (2001) observed the trailmarking by mucous excretion from the male's cloaca in T. (E.) chinhaiensis, and assumed the behavior to be a remarkable feature of this species. They also surmised that this trail, presumably serving as orientation for the female through olfactory or tactic stimuli, has evolved as an adaptation to underground mating.…”

“…The paucity of detailed relevant information on these terrestrial breeders, however, has been an obstacle to inferring evolutionary trends in the courtship behavior of the Salamandridae (Sparreboom et al, 2001). …”

“…Part of the observations described below have been briefly reported (Utsunomiya, 1982) or cited as a personal communication (Sparreboom et al, 2001). …”