VOYEUR lizards that watch other couples getting it on will mate for longer
when their turn comes, according to a biologist in Sweden.
Mating with a female who has just copulated means that new sperm have to
compete with those of her previous partner. So knowing a female鈥檚 mating history
may influence the amount of effort a male puts into mating. Mats Olsson of the
University of Gothenburg has found that male dragon lizards mate for 60 per cent
longer with females they have just seen copulating, compared with females whose
track record was unknown.
The behaviour should improve a male鈥檚 chance of fathering offspring, Olsson
will report in Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology. 鈥淟onger copulation
means larger ejaculate,鈥� he says.
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