Natural history of Ctenus medius Keyserling, 1891 (Aranae, Ctenidae) II: life cycle and aspects of reproductive behavior under laboratory conditions

Ctenus medius Keyserling, 1891 is a wandering spider common in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It has been the subject of few studies. Thus, this work aims to elucidate aspects of its natural history, such as the life cycle and reproductive behavior of this species, through laboratory and field observations. Two females with egg sacs were observed in the laboratory and one was observed in field (Barra Mansa, 22º32'S and 44º10'W) until the emergence of the spiderlings. For observation of the immature stage development, a portion of the spiderlings from the same hatch were taken to the laboratory and watched until sexual maturity. In the field, the period between the oviposition and the emergence of spiderlings was of 36 days. The female selects a site for egg sac deposition and stays there until the spiderlings emerge. Seven days after the emergence, the female abandoned the site where the egg sac was made, concomitant to the spiderlings dispersion from observation's place and until the moment that the spiderlings started to eat. For the spiderlings kept under laboratory conditions, cannibalism was not observed in the first instars (1-4th) when sufficient food was offered. Sexual maturity happened in the 14th or 15th instars, with an average of 309.2 to 344.5 days until the last/sexual molt, respectively. Until the date of sexual maturity, there was a mortality rate of 85%. This species is very fragile in captivity. This hampered deductions concerning longevity. Both females and males collected in the field were induced to mate in the laboratory. Courtship movements of males were registered, but the females did not permit the mating. These data may assist in initial biological studies of Ctenus genus and offer comparative parameters for studies of other related species.

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Sexual maturation in free-ranging Chilabothrus angulifer (Serpentes: Boidae)

Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v15i2p163-174 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 163

Author(s):

Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera ◽

Javier Torres López ◽

Ruben Marrero ◽

Ernesto Morell Savall ◽

Ana Sanz Ochotorena

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Natural History ◽

Reproductive Biology ◽

Sexual Maturation ◽

West Indies ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Limited Information ◽

The West ◽

In Captivity ◽

Free Ranging

The Cuban Boa (C. angulifer) is the only boid snake in Cuba. It is the largest member of the genus, as well as the largest snake in the West Indies (> 400 cm in snout-vent length); as such, it is an iconic species of the Cuban herpetofauna. Although the snake’s natural history is poorly known, several studies describe aspects of its reproductive biology in captivity. Herein we document the sizes and ages at which both sexes reach sexual maturity in nature, and show that the Cuban Boa reaches adulthood at a much smaller size than previously reported for captive snakes. Based on the limited information on the growth rate of C. angulifer in nature, males must reach breeding size after 3 years and females after 5 years

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Mating behavior of Patagonian octopus (Octopus tehuelchus) under laboratory conditions

Marine and Fishery Sciences (MAFIS) ◽

10.47193/mafis.3312020061807 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 115-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mercedes Berrueta ◽

Julián A. Desiderio ◽

Florencia Agliano ◽

Andrea Victoria López ◽

Eddie O. Aristizabal Abud ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Intercourse ◽

Mating Behavior ◽

Reproductive Behavior ◽

Artisanal Fishery ◽

Male And Female ◽

Northern Area ◽

Laboratory Conditions ◽

In Captivity ◽

Patagonian Coast ◽

Aquaculture Development

Patagonian octopus (Octopus tehuelchus) is a species that holds an artisanal fishery in the northern area of the Argentine Patagonian coast and has a potential for aquaculture development. This work aimed to characterize the mating behavior of four pairs of Patagonian octopuses under laboratory conditions. Results showed that this species has a complex reproductive behavior. Remarkably, female remained inside her shelter during pre-copula, copulation and intercourse events. Male and female faced by the oral face during sexual intercourse, which lasted 3 to 5 min. The observations will contribute to the better management of the reproductive specimens of the species in captivity.

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The life cycle of the Atlantic Beach-Cricket, Pseudomogoplistes vicentae Gorochov, 1996

Journal of Insect Conservation ◽

10.1007/s10841-019-00187-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 473-485

Author(s):

Karim Vahed

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Natural History ◽

Late Winter ◽

Embryonic Diapause ◽

Adult Males ◽

Field Sampling ◽

Pitfall Trapping ◽

In Captivity ◽

History Of ◽

The Uk

Abstract The Atlantic Beach-Cricket, Pseudomogoplistes vicentae, inhabits shingle beaches, with a range that extends from the UK to the Canary Islands. Little is known about the natural history of this species, which is listed by the IUCN as Vulnerable. In the present study, a combination of field sampling (by pitfall trapping and direct searching) in spring, summer, autumn and late winter at two different sites in the UK, together with culturing eggs and nymphs in captivity, was used to determine the life cycle. Eggs laid in August in captivity showed no visible embryonic development until May and hatched the following July. There was no difference in the time taken to hatch between eggs maintained over winter at either 4 or 11 °C. Nymphal instars present in the field indicated that the majority of eggs hatch from June to early August. From October to February in the field, the majority of nymphs were estimated to be at the 7th instar. Development appeared to resume by April and nymphs reached adulthood by July to August in the field, two years after the eggs from which they hatched were likely to have been laid. The number of nymphal instars ranged from 10 to 11 (mode: 11) in males and 11 to 13 (mode: 12) in females. In captivity, most adult males died by the end of November, while 35% of females survived until March. Females preferred to oviposit in driftwood rather than in sand in the laboratory. This fact, together with the early embryonic diapause, suggests that the species might be able to disperse by rafting at the egg stage.

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Life cycle of Chlosyne lacinia saundersii (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on Tithonia tubaeformis (Jacq.) Cass. under controlled laboratory conditions

Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina ◽

10.25085/rsea.790405 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 31-38

Author(s):

Graciela C. Gómez ◽

María L. Fernández Salinas ◽

María J. Barrionuevo

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Natural History ◽

Host Plants ◽

Cycle Duration ◽

Alternative Host ◽

Larval Stages ◽

Laboratory Conditions ◽

Stage Of Development ◽

Honey Solution ◽

Life Cycle Duration

Chlosyne lacinia saundersii (Doubleday) is a polyphagous lepidopteran that produces a great defoliation in its host plants. The objective of this work was to determine the development and survival time of C. lacinia saundersii and to report aspects of its natural history on “Cuban grass” Tithonia tubaeformis (Jacq.) Cass. (Asteraceae). Caterpillars from the field were kept in cages in a rearing chamber under controlled conditions and fed with leaves of T. tubaeformis until adults’ emergence. To the latter, a honey solution and T. tubaeformis flowers was given. The life cycle duration was 48 days (egg: 8.0 days; larva: 24.9; pupa: 6.9 days; adult: 8.3 days) with six larval stages. The survival of each stage of development was high (> 70%) but considering the period from egg to pupa, only 52% of the individuals reached adulthood. Larval gregariousness was observed. In relation to the sexes there is a predominance of females (1.1:1). Female pupae were heavier than males. This work represents the first contribution to the knowledge of the biology of C. lacinia saundersii under laboratory conditions on T. tubaeformis. Cuban grass is confirmed as a new alternative host plant for C. lacinia saundersii

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Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador

Phyllomedusa Journal of Herpetology ◽

10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v17i1p113-126 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 113

Author(s):

Jorge H. Valencia ◽

Katty Garzon-Tello

Keyword(s):

Natural History ◽

Reproductive Behavior ◽

Copulatory Behavior ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Microhabitat Selection ◽

Congeneric Species ◽

Antipredator Strategies ◽

Color Changes ◽

In Captivity ◽

Dark Green

Reproductive behavior and development in Spilotes sulphureus (Serpentes: Colubridae) from Ecuador. The Birdsnake Spilotes sulphureus is a large-sized species that occurs from the Amazon region to the Atlantic forest of South America. Despite the wide distribution little is known about its natural history. Here we report, for the frst time, reproductive behavior displayed by this species observed in a pair of Ecuadorian specimens in captivity. A ritualized pre-copulatory behavior followed a colubrine pattern similar to the congeneric species Spilotes pullatus. The repertoire included chin-rubbing, continuous tongue ficking, head raising, body jerking, cloacal gaping, and partial mounting. Oviposition occurred 86–98 days after of the frst copulation. Females lay clutches of 7–14 eggs. Juvenile coloration is remarkably different from adults. Newborns have a dorsum with transverse brown or gray bands, and white or pale gray interspaces; young of 1–2 years have green bands and yellow-green interspaces; adults have dark green bands. Ontogenetic color changes are presumably associated with antipredator strategies, change in size, vulnerability or habitat and microhabitat selection.

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Rites of Passage

10.1093/oso/9780198702603.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Axel Michaels

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Old Age ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Rites Of Passage ◽

Life And Death ◽

Transformational Process ◽

Local Contexts ◽

Vulnerable Community ◽

History Of ◽

The Individual

This chapter examines the classical Hindu life-cycle rites, the term saṃskāra and its history, and the main sources (Gṛhyasūtras and Dharma texts). It presents a history of the traditional saṃskāras and variants in local contexts, especially in Nepal. It describes prenatal, birth and childhood, initiation, marriage, old-age, death, and ancestor rituals. Finally, it analyzes the transformational process of these life-cycle rituals in the light of general theories on rites of passage. It proposes, in saṃskāras, man equates himself with the unchangeable and thus seems to counteract the uncertainty of the future, of life and death, since persons are confronted with their finite existence. For evidently every change, whether social or biological, represents a danger for the cohesion of the vulnerable community of the individual and society. These rituals then become an attempt of relegating the effects of nature or of mortality: birth, teething, sexual maturity, reproduction, and dying.

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Reproductive behavior of the blind mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) in a seminatural burrow system

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z99-251 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 78 (4) ◽

pp. 570-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Irit Gazit ◽

Joseph Terkel

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Behavior ◽

Spalax Ehrenbergi ◽

Mole Rat ◽

Management Protocol ◽

In Captivity ◽

Set Up ◽

Tunnel System ◽

Insight Into ◽

Significant Factors ◽

Lengthy Process

The blind mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) is a fossorial mammal that is solitary and highly aggressive in nature. The consequent difficulties of maintaining this species in captivity have hindered attempts to gain insight into its behavior and reproductive biology. This article describes an innovative artificial tunnel system and management protocol that facilitated our study of the reproductive behavior of the blind mole-rat in captivity. The study employed a naturalistic approach that allowed the animals to establish separate territories in a seminatural tunnel system and to become familiar with each other over a period of months. This approach contrasts with previous unsuccessful attempts in which mole-rats were introduced without a period of acclimation to each other or to the experimental set-up. The results reveal that both the length of acquaintance between a pair of mole-rats and their own control of the timing of encounters are the most significant factors in reducing aggression and stress. Courtship in blind mole-rats is a lengthy process during which the animals gradually become accustomed to one another, which leads to a reduction of aggression and the initiation of positive "contact movements," eventually enabling copulation to occur. Minimal disturbance by the researcher and initiation of encounters by the mole-rats themselves appear to be the factors that led to a successful mating, pregnancy, and, 34 days later, to the female giving birth and rearing the pups in captivity.

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Life cycle of the western school prawn, Metapenaeus dalli Racek, in a Western Australian estuary

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf9860095 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 95 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

IC Potter ◽

JW Penn ◽

KS Brooker

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Western Australia ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Second Year Of Life ◽

Second Year ◽

Australian Estuary ◽

Western Australian

The absence of marine records for M. dalli below latitude 31�S., together with data on gonadal stages and spermatophore deposition on females of this species in the Swan estuary, provide very strong indications that the western school prawn typically breeds in estuarine environments in south-western Australia. The 0 + recruits, which first appeared in samples in February, remained in the estuary during the following months and by November had reached a size suitable for exploitation. At this time they were approaching sexual maturity and were starting to move from the shallows to the deeper waters of the estuary where they remained for their second year of life. In contrast to Australian Penaeus species, M. dalli mates during the intermoult period when the shell is hard rather than immediately after moulting.

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