Abstract
Intrasexual copulation and mate discrimination by Nodilittorina radiata (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) were studied on a concrete breakwater at Hakodate Bay, southern Hokkaido, Japan. Intrasexual (male–male) copulations were observed in 4.7–21.1% of copulating pairs on the shore. As females were relatively larger than males and males copulated with females larger than themselves, we hypothesized that males choose potential mates larger than themselves. However, two male mates showed no significant size preference in intrasexual copulations, suggesting that males do not choose relatively larger individuals as mates. In a laboratory mate-choice experiment, male N. radiata preferred to mate with females, indicating precopulatory sex identification. They copulated with males, however, at the frequency of 37%, perhaps because of sex misidentification.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Drs. A.S. Ilano and Y. Takada for valuable comments and information. We also thank the members of the Biodiversity Laboratory, Hokkaido University, for their advice during the study.
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Ito, A., Wada, S. Intrasexual copulation and mate discrimination in a population of Nodilittorina radiata (Gastropoda: Littorinidae). J Ethol 24, 45–49 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0159-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-005-0159-1