Intersexual interactions in Tasmanian bettongs (Bettongia gaimardi) were observed in dyadic combinations. Several behaviours were associated with agonistic confrontations and occurred in predictable response sequences. There was no evidence of a consort period between males and pre-oestrous females. Overt sexual interactions occurred only on the night of oestrus, coincidentally with the maintenance of close spatial proximity. During copulation, multiple intromissions were regularly achieved but the intervals between successive bouts of these acts generally increased. Males were also observed to engage in regular attempts at social (urogenital) investigation and were apparently able to detect the reproductive state of all resident females, presumably utilising olfactory cues. The brevity of sexual interactions occurring between individuals contrasts with the more complex repertoire of the gregarious large macropodoid marsupials.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Biological Sciences
Research Group:	Zoology
Research Field:	Zoology not elsewhere classified
Objective Division:	Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:	Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:	Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences
UTAS Author:	Buchmann, OLKA (Mr Othmar Buchmann)
UTAS Author:	Rose, RW (Associate Professor Randy Rose)
UTAS Author:	Virtue, MC (Miss Melinda Cecily Virtue)
ID Code:	16971
Year Published:	1999
Deposited By:	Zoology
Deposited On:	1999-08-01
Last Modified:	2000-05-09
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