Article
An Instance of Male Combat in the Common Snapping Turtle ( Chelydra serpentina)
Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society
(1990)
Abstract
The aggressive behavior of common snapping turtles
(Chelydra serpentina) is well documented (Linsdale, 1927;
R. H. McCauley cited in Carr, 1952; Evans, 1952; Raney and
Josephson, 1954; Hammer, 1969, 1971; Froese and Burghardt,
1974; Dodd and Brodie, 1975; and reports cited in Galbraith
et al., 1987). However, few studies give much description of
aggressive encounters in natural conditions or the outcome
of the interactions. Documentation of the occurrence and
results of male combat in snapping turtles is significant, be..
cause it provides the basis for testing assumptions concerning
the evolution of large-male sexual dimorphism (Berry and
Shine, 1980; Wilbur and Morin, 1988). Herein, we report an
instance of combat between two adult male C. serpentina,
including the result of the fight.
Disciplines
Publication Date
1990
Publisher Statement
Copyright 1990 Chicago Herpetological Society
Citation Information
Fredric J. Janzen and Shyril O'Steen. "An Instance of Male Combat in the Common Snapping Turtle ( Chelydra serpentina)" Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society Vol. 25 Iss. 1 (1990) p. 11 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/fredric-janzen/16/