Title
An analysis of courtship behaviour in the four-eyed spotted turtle, Sacalia quadriocellata (Reptilia : Testudines: Geoemydidae)
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Amphibia-Reptilia
Publication Date
3-2008
Volume
29
Issue
2
First Page
185
Last Page
195
Publisher
Brill
Keywords
chi-square test, cinematographic techniques, courtship behaviour, intraindividual dyadic transition matrix, kappa analysis
Abstract
A total of 168 courtship sequences from 12 male and 18 female adult captive Sacalia quadriocellata were recorded on video. Thirty male and four female discrete motor patterns were defined and described. The behavioural sequences were summarized in an intra-individual dyadic transition matrix and analyzed using chi-square and kappa analyses. Courtship behaviour models and a flow diagram were constructed for this species. The male display patterns involved tactical and visual signals to induce female receptivity to mating. In response, females may emit olfactory signals for gender recognition. Female rejection of male suitors resulted in a male success rate of 4.17%. Only seven copulations were observed. Copulation only occurred when a female became quiescent and relaxed her tail for coition.
DOI
10.1163/156853808784124901
Print ISSN
01735373
E-ISSN
15685381
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, 2008. Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Liu, Y.-X., He, B., Shi, H.-T., Murphy, R. W., Fong, J. J., Wang, J.-C,...Ma, Y.-G. (2008). An analysis of courtship behaviour in the four-eyed spotted turtle, Sacalia quadriocellata (Reptilia: Testudines: Geoemydidae). Amphibia-Reptilia, 29(2), 185-195. doi: 10.1163/156853808784124901
