OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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| Title | Chastity belts in gartersnakes: the functional significance of mating plugs |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2000 |
| Authors | Shine, R, Olsson, MM, Mason, RT |
| Journal | Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |
| Volume | 70 |
| Pagination | 377-390 |
| Type of Article | Journal Article |
| ISSN | 0024-4066 |
| Abstract | Male red-sided gartersnakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) deposit a thick gelatinous plug that occludes the female cloaca after copulation. Previous workers have interpreted the plug as a sexually-selected adaptation to (1) physically prevent re-mating by the female, and/or (2) provide pheromonal cues to discourage courtship by rival males or to decrease recepticity by females. Our data support the former hypothesis, but not the latter. Plugs serve as effective physical barriers to additional copulation for |
| URL | <Go to ISI>://WOS:000088077500001 |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2000.tb01229.x |