Page 36 - Amphibian

Courtship displays MALE PALMATE Swollen cloacal
Although he lacks
gland
the male crested
newt’s dramatic high-toothed
crest, the male palmate newt is
easily distinguished from the
In most newts and salamanders, courtship and mating female. He has swollen cloacal
involves a complex behavioral display by the male for the glands, fully webbed hind
feet, and a tail with a
female. Not only does a male have to find a mate of the pointed tip but
same species, but he has to guide the female over a no fin.
spermatophore, or small sperm packet, which he deposits
on the ground or in a pond. Fertilization is usually internal – the
female picks up the sperm packet with her cloaca, or reproductive
organ. In primitive salamanders, like a hellbender (pp. 48–49), the
female lays her eggs first, then Webbed
foot
UNDERWATER BALLET the male deposits his sperm
1 The male crested newt
is attracted by the over them. Caecilians have a
swollen belly of
Female special kind of internal
the egg-carrying Male
female, as well as fertilization in which the palmate
her lack of crest and male inserts the end of his newt
silvery tail markings.
She is attracted by the cloaca into that of the female.
male’s colorful nuptial,
or breeding, “dress.”
VAMPIRE SALAMANDER? MUSCULAR MALE
The male mountain dusky The male sharp-ribbed newt has well-
salamander is no vampire, but he is developed, muscular forearms, an adaptation
scraping the female’s skin with his for a prolonged 24-hour mating embrace.
teeth to inoculate her with a Mating and egg laying can take place over ten
chemical from his chin gland. months of the year, leaving out only the
This is to stimulate her driest, hottest months of
to accept his court- July and August.
ship advances.

Silvery
stripe on
male’s
tail

DISPLAYING
Mule 2The male swims in
lashing front of the female showing
tail toward his breeding dress. Raising
female the toothed crest on his back,
and lashing his silvery tail,
he fans secretions
from his cloacal
glands toward
the female.

Well­developed
forearm for
NUDGING holding onto female
3The male deposits his spermatophore,
then guides the female over it by nudging
her side. The female
uses her cloaca to pick FILM VAMPIRES
up his spermatophore. Hollywood vampires also use
their teeth, but unlike the male
salamander (top), the aim is to
kill their victims.

SHOWING OFF
This 19th-century strong man
shows off his strength by holding
the weights with one hand, but could he
hold on for 24 hours like the male sharp-ribbed newt?

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