Necrophiliac behaviour in the recently described species Scinax tsachila (Anura: Hylidae), with a review of necrophilia in amphibians. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pintanel, Pol; Obando-Moreno, Gabriela; Merino-Viteri, Andrés
• Is Part Of: Neotropical biodiversity. Volume 7:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 53
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Amplexus -- Davian behaviour -- necrogamy -- reproduction -- thanatophilia; Biodiversity -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Natural history -- Latin America -- Periodicals; Latin America -- Environmental conditions -- Periodicals; 577.0980913
• DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2021.1879549
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2376-6808

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Necrophilia in amphibians is a poorly known behaviour despite its potential as a beneficial adaptation for improving reproductive success. Here, we describe the observation of a multiple amplexus involving necrophilia in the recently described Tsachila snouted treefrog, Scinax tsachila (Anura: Hylidae). We further provide an extensive review of published necrophilia in amphibians. At least 33 species of amphibians, mostly anurans, have shown a necrophiliac behaviour, with only one case of necrophilia in a caudate. Necrophilia has long been considered a maladaptive behaviour, since reproduction is usually not viable and is also associated with increased risk of death. However, necrophiliac behaviour has recently been proposed as an adaptive behaviour for some species because it may result in viable offspring.