Direct Observation of Mating Behavior Involving One Female and Two Male Loggerhead Turtles in the Wild

Isao Kawazu; Haruna Okabe; Nozomi Kobayashi

doi:10.5358/hsj.36.69

Translator Disclaimer

1 February 2017 Direct Observation of Mating Behavior Involving One Female and Two Male Loggerhead Turtles in the Wild

Isao Kawazu, Haruna Okabe, Nozomi Kobayashi

Author Affiliations +

Current Herpetology, 36(1):69-72 (2017). https://doi.org/10.5358/hsj.36.69

Abstract

In March 2015, we observed mating behavior of loggerhead turtles in the western coastal waters of Okinawa Island, Japan. Two males and one female were initially involved, of which one of the males (M1) was attempting to mount the other male (M2) that had already mounted the female. Shortly after the onset of observation, M1 dismounted from M2 and swam away. At that time, the female, initially seemingly resisting copulation with M2, became receptive. This is the first report of loggerhead turtle mating behavior that involves more than two individuals. This observation suggests that the mating season of loggerheads around Okinawa Island includes the early spring.

Citation Download Citation

Isao Kawazu, Haruna Okabe, and Nozomi Kobayashi "Direct Observation of Mating Behavior Involving One Female and Two Male Loggerhead Turtles in the Wild," Current Herpetology 36(1), 69-72, (1 February 2017). https://doi.org/10.5358/hsj.36.69

Accepted: 1 January 2017; Published: 1 February 2017

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

PERSONAL SIGN IN
Full access may be available with your subscription

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Remember Email on this computer

Remember Password

No BioOne Digital Library account? Create an account
or Access Institutional Sign In via Shibboleth or OpenAthens

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Price: $10.00 ADD TO CART

Includes PDF & HTML, when available

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

KEYWORDS/PHRASES

PUBLICATION TITLE:

COLLECTION TITLE:

PUBLICATION YEARS