title: Field observations of mating behavior in the neck-banded snake Scaphiodontophis annulatus (Serpentes: Colubridae).
abstract: We observed the mating behavior of the neck-banded snake Scaphiodontophis annulatus (a common species of colubrid in the South Pacific of Costa Rica) in the pre-montane wet forest of Las Cruces Biological Station (San Vito de Java, Costa Rica). Three S. annulatus were observed during courtship between 10-12 AM in a patch of primary forest. The two males were observed to interact with the female, but not signs of male-male agonistic interactions were observed. Their behavior includes grabbing and holding the female, copula, and biting during the copula.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Clodomiro Picado, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica. msasa@cro.ots.ac.cr
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasa
authors.forename: Sierra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Curtis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017812:Colubridae / Q000502:physiology*; D003307:Copulation / Q000502:physiology; D003364:Costa Rica; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D052586:Mating Preference, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D019370:Observation; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*