Courtship and copulation in Tarsius bancanus.
The reproductive behavior of 6 paired, captive Bornean tarsiers was studied over an 8-month period. Seven copulations were observed. Females signalled males by visual displays and olfactory cues from vulval rubbing. Males signalled females with courtship calls heard before matings. After a courtship lasting from 1 to 2 h, copulation occurred with the male thrusting 61-190 times for 60-90 s, ending in ejaculation. The female regulated timing of mating by rejection or avoidance of the male. Multiple matings were not observed, and mating occurred once or twice a night during each night of estrus. This copulatory pattern of infrequent matings of short duration and active female solicitation and regulation of copulating timing suggests a harem or monogamous system.
D000818:Animals; D003307:Copulation; D004971:Estrus; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal; D011443:Strepsirhini / Q000502:physiology*; D014828:Vocalization, Animal