Observations of dugong reproductive behavior in Trang Province,Thailand: further evidence of intraspecific variation in dugong behavior |
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| Authors: | Kanjana Adulyanukosol Surasak Thongsukdee Takeshi Hara Nobuaki Arai Makoto Tsuchiya |
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| Affiliation: | (1) Phuket Marine Biological Center, 51, Vichit, Muang, Phuket, 83000, Thailand;(2) Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center, 92 Phaholyothin 7, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand;(3) Japan Fisheries Resource Conservation Association, 2-18-1 Kachidoki, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0054, Japan;(4) Department of Social Informatics, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan;(5) Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukuys, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The seagrass beds at Muk Island and Talibong Island in Thailand are important areas for dugong (Dugong dugon) feeding and reproduction. We used opportunistic observations during aerial surveys to investigate dugong mating behavior in shallow water areas near Talibong Island on three different days. The mating pattern was categorized by five stages: (1) following: the male followed the female, (2) approaching and stimulating: the male approached and muzzled the female, (3) pairing: both male and female swam in parallel, ventral to ventral or dorsal to dorsal side, (4) mounting: the male copulated with the female, and (5) separating: the male and female swam in different directions. Parental care of calves included one observation of a cow embracing her neonatal calf by the flippers. |
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