Courtship and Mating Behavior in Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa (Testudines: Emydidae: Batagurinae)

Abstract

Courtship and mating behavior of Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa was studied both in the field and in captivity. Courtship and copulatory performances can be divided into three phases. In phase one the male is the active sex member, approaching, sniffing, trailing the female and vibrating his head and neck. In phase two the female becomes active and engages with the male in nose to nose contact and biting behavior. During the last phase the male becomes active again and mounts the female, grasps her tail, inserts his penis into her vent and performs a series of pumping motions during coition. The total behavioral repertoire of this species consists of at least 12 cues and responses associated with courtship and mating. Visual and chemical cues are probably important in conspecific and sex recognition. In a recent review of the variation and evolution of stereotyped behavior in reptiles, Carpenter and Ferguson (1977) pointed out that the behavioral patterns of most turtles are unknown. Courtship and mating behavior of only a few neotropical turtles have been reported (Rhinoclemmys funerea, Iverson, 1975; Rhinoclemmys annulata, Mittemeier, 1971; Pseudemys scripta, Moll and Legler, 1971). Herein I report on the breeding behavior of Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa in captivity and in the field. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten captive specimens of Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima incisa were observed from May 1978 to January 1980. The specimens were collected at Quebrada de Olomega, Cant6n Olomega, 24 km SE San Miguel, Departamento de La Uni6n, El Salvador. Carapace lengths ranged from 125 to 210 I Current address: Department of Biology, University of Missouri, Kansas City, Missouri 64110. This content downloaded from 207.46.13.184 on Wed, 10 Aug 2016 06:29:26 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms VOLUME 85, NUMBER 2 83 mm (~ = 153 mm, 5 males; 179 mm, 5 females), and weights ranged from 350 to 1450 g (t = 540 g, 5 males; 1020 g, 5 females). Turtles kept in an outdoor garden (50 m2) interacted freely and were fed on alternate days chicken viscera, beef liver, minced pork sausages, lettuce leaves, papaya and oranges. Still photographs were made to record the various phases of behavior. During random periods of observations that ranged from two to 12 hours, 80 incomplete and 57 complete courtship and mating performances were observed. Field observations in 1978 of courtship and mating behavior were similar to those shown by captive animals.