Re: courting behavior

Posted by Mark Seward on May 02, 2002 at 19:09:13:

In Reply to: courting behavior posted by allen on May 01, 2002 at 09:55:05:

: Last weekend, both Friday and Saturday evening, I observed some very obvious courting behavior Allen,

The first question that comes to mind is how do you know the sex of the animals? From your description of their behavior, it sounds more like two males than a male and female. Arching the head back in particular is more characteristic of two males in combat. In Gilas, male combat is typically a wrestling match, the object being to gain a superior position. Arching the head back is part of the strategy used to throw the opponent.

You asked about courting behavior at ovulation. Usually, once ovulation occurs, you're beyond seeing any mating. Fertilization does occur after ovulation, but I have observed very little mating at or beyond ovulation.

Mark

between one of my pairs. I have been rotating my 3 females in with 1 male since early March, but this is the first time I actually saw this behavior. They both followed each other around the cage, rubbing up and down each other's bodies, arching their heads back, and both the male and female were trying to mount each other. I watched this for about 2 hours before going to bed. I never observed the actual copulation, but they were really trying hard. This happened both nights about 9:00 pm. I haven't seen it since.

: Do females only exhibit this behavior when they are ovulating or have egg follicles?

: I'm curious what others have seen in terms of courting behavior and if this is common.

• Dr. Seward's Gila Monster Web Site

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: : Last weekend, both Friday and Saturday evening, I observed some very obvious courting behavior Allen, : The first question that comes to mind is how do you know the sex of the animals? From your description of their behavior, it sounds more like two males than a male and female. Arching the head back in particular is more characteristic of two males in combat. In Gilas, male combat is typically a wrestling match, the object being to gain a superior position. Arching the head back is part of the strategy used to throw the opponent. : You asked about courting behavior at ovulation. Usually, once ovulation occurs, you're beyond seeing any mating. Fertilization does occur after ovulation, but I have observed very little mating at or beyond ovulation. : Mark : between one of my pairs. I have been rotating my 3 females in with 1 male since early March, but this is the first time I actually saw this behavior. They both followed each other around the cage, rubbing up and down each other's bodies, arching their heads back, and both the male and female were trying to mount each other. I watched this for about 2 hours before going to bed. I never observed the actual copulation, but they were really trying hard. This happened both nights about 9:00 pm. I haven't seen it since. : : Do females only exhibit this behavior when they are ovulating or have egg follicles? : : I'm curious what others have seen in terms of courting behavior and if this is common.

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