Mating behaviour of captive spotted seals (Phoca largha)

John C. Beier; Douglas Wartzok

doi:10.1016/0003-3472(79)90013-7

Mating behaviour of captive spotted seals (Phoca largha)

John C. Beier, Douglas Wartzok

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study is the first detailed analysis of the underwater mating behaviour of seals. The courtship behaviour of this species of ice-inhabiting phocid is more complex and variable than that of seals in other habitats. We observed underwater mating during April and early May in 1973 to 1977. Most pre- and post-copulatory behaviours and vocalizations are drawn from the repertoire we observed throughout the year. For a one-year period we monitored six vocalizations and seven behaviours, four of which involved interactions between the pair. Nosing and biting interactions and growling and drumming vocalizations increased significantly two weeks prior to copulation and progressively increased up to the day of mating.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	772-774,IN5-IN6,775-781
Journal	Animal Behaviour
Volume	27
Issue number	PART 3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-3472(79)90013-7
State	Published - Aug 1979
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Animal Science and Zoology

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title = "Mating behaviour of captive spotted seals (Phoca largha)",

abstract = "This study is the first detailed analysis of the underwater mating behaviour of seals. The courtship behaviour of this species of ice-inhabiting phocid is more complex and variable than that of seals in other habitats. We observed underwater mating during April and early May in 1973 to 1977. Most pre- and post-copulatory behaviours and vocalizations are drawn from the repertoire we observed throughout the year. For a one-year period we monitored six vocalizations and seven behaviours, four of which involved interactions between the pair. Nosing and biting interactions and growling and drumming vocalizations increased significantly two weeks prior to copulation and progressively increased up to the day of mating.",

author = "Beier, {John C.} and Douglas Wartzok",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments This work was supported by contract No . N00014-75-C-O7O1 from the Office of Naval Research to The Johns Hopkins University . We wish to thank Dr G . Carleton Ray for suggestions during the study and Drs Ray and Charles H . Southwick for general advice on the manuscript. We are most grateful to George Taylor, Jean Evans, Nancy Murray, and Geraldine McCormick-Ray for their long hours of observation during this study . Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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AU - Wartzok, Douglas

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments This work was supported by contract No . N00014-75-C-O7O1 from the Office of Naval Research to The Johns Hopkins University . We wish to thank Dr G . Carleton Ray for suggestions during the study and Drs Ray and Charles H . Southwick for general advice on the manuscript. We are most grateful to George Taylor, Jean Evans, Nancy Murray, and Geraldine McCormick-Ray for their long hours of observation during this study . Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 1979/8

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N2 - This study is the first detailed analysis of the underwater mating behaviour of seals. The courtship behaviour of this species of ice-inhabiting phocid is more complex and variable than that of seals in other habitats. We observed underwater mating during April and early May in 1973 to 1977. Most pre- and post-copulatory behaviours and vocalizations are drawn from the repertoire we observed throughout the year. For a one-year period we monitored six vocalizations and seven behaviours, four of which involved interactions between the pair. Nosing and biting interactions and growling and drumming vocalizations increased significantly two weeks prior to copulation and progressively increased up to the day of mating.

AB - This study is the first detailed analysis of the underwater mating behaviour of seals. The courtship behaviour of this species of ice-inhabiting phocid is more complex and variable than that of seals in other habitats. We observed underwater mating during April and early May in 1973 to 1977. Most pre- and post-copulatory behaviours and vocalizations are drawn from the repertoire we observed throughout the year. For a one-year period we monitored six vocalizations and seven behaviours, four of which involved interactions between the pair. Nosing and biting interactions and growling and drumming vocalizations increased significantly two weeks prior to copulation and progressively increased up to the day of mating.

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Mating behaviour of captive spotted seals (Phoca largha)

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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