WEEK 3

DATE:
TOPIC: REPRODUCTIVE (COURTSHIP) BEHAVIOURS IN ANIMALS
LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of this topic, I should be able to:
i. define courtship behavior
ii. state the importance of courtship behavior
iii. explain the types of courtship behavior

COLD TASK: what is courtship behavior?

Courtship Behaviour: this is a collection of behaviours unique to each species that enables animals to
have a successful sexual union.
 It is a pattern of instinctive behavior in response to certain external stimulus in animal.
 Courtship may be simple, involving a small number of chemical, visual, or auditory stimuli or it
may be a highly complex series of acts by two or more individuals, using several modes of
communication.
 Courtship behaviour is displayed by partners dealing with competing emotions like fear,
aggression, and sexual interest spurred by physical closeness.

IMPORTANCE OF COURTSHIP
i.) It brings the male and female animals together.
ii.) It prepares the male and female animals for mating.
iii.) Courtship stimulates egg laying and sperm release in the animals.
iv.) The process enhances fertilization and reproduction.

TYPES OF COURTSHIP BEHAVIOURS

i) PAIRING: this is a type of courtship behavior in which two animals usually a male and a female
separate themselves from other groups to form mating partners.
 The pairing may be very brief or just for mating act or last for a life time. Pairing may be seen in
animals such as fishes, toad, termites and human being.
 Pairing in winged termites: during breeding season, the winged termites usually a male and
female pair up. They fly out to form new colony.

 Pairing in fish: during the breeding season, the male fish picks a female as partner. The male
stimulates the female to lay eggs and the male releases sperm on the egg for external
fertilization to take place.
 Pairing in Toad: during the breeding season, the male toad goes to the pond, it croaks which
invites and excites the female. When the female comes, the male mounts on the back of the
female for two or three days, during this period, the female lays egg while the male fertilizes
them externally.
  Pairing in Human Beings: after the male and female attain sexual maturity, both come together
as husband and wife. They form sexual partners and live together, mate and reproduce.

ii.) DISPLAY: this is an elaborate process which involves a series of fixed patterns of movement or
attractive exhibitions between mating partners. This movement is a response to some actions of the
partner and triggers a re-programmed movement pattern by the partner.
TYPES OF DISPLAYS
Dancing, singing, croaking, nest making in birds, production of odour by the female to attract the male,
symbolic feeding of the female to attract the male.

 Display in Agama Lizard: The lizard displays its bright colour and approaches the female. The
female lizard curves her back and lifts her tail vertically. The male wags his tail, nods his head
and grip the female by the neck and pushes his tail under her body so their cloacae come into
contact for copulation to take place.
Display in Birds: In domestic fowl, display involves the male cock dancing towards the female (hen). The
cock lowers its wing on the side away from the hen and dances in staggering manner sideways towards
the hen, beating the lower wing against its body and its leg as it moves. If the hen is ready for courtship,
the cock chases the hen and overtakes her, mount on her back and pecks on her head while it stoops
down and raises her tail feather to expose the cloaca to allow mating to take place.
Display in Human Being: display behaviour in human being involves physical appearance and make-up
of both sexes. Display in matured girls include the following;
 Applying of lipsticks on their lips and powdering of the faces.
 Wearing, plaiting, curling of hair, wearing of wigs of different colours.
 Wearing of attractive hats and head gears.
 Wearing of large brightly coloured bangles and dangling earrings.
 Wearing of tight fitting dresses to display the body curves.
 Displaying of thigh by wearing short dresses.
 Well-built feminine stature.
 Wearing perforated or transparent dresses to show the attractive parts of the body.
 Wearing of artificial eye lashes, finger nails, breasts and buttocks.
 Use of perfumes to conceal the body odour.
 Walking while shaking their buttocks.
 Attractive dancing and singing of melodious songs in public gathering especially in social
 gathering.
 Showing kindness, generosity and favour with good manners.
 Attractive smile and dazzling of eyes.
 Display in matured male child includes the followings;
 Attractive haircut.
 Wearing of colourful and neat reigning styles, shoes and cap to match.
 Use of perfumes to conceal body odour.
 Exposure of hairy body.
 Well-built muscular stature.
 Display of money and other valuable jewels.
 Singing melodious songs.
 Walking gracefully and majestically.
 Attractive smile.
 Showing kindness, favour and generosity with good manners.
iii) TERRITORIALITY: this is claiming exclusive control or ownership over a particular territory or
territoriality is a phenomenon in which an animal acquires a specific area, advertises it and defends it
against intruders particularly of its own species. Usually, it is the male animals that establish the
territory only the female animals are allowed to share the territory with them.
FUNCTIONS OF A TERRITORY
i) Territoriality ensures an adequate supply of food, nesting materials for the young, therefore resulting
in better growth.
ii) The young and the female are protected from the attack of the other males.
iii) The population is reduced to a density that the territory can support.
iv) It reduces the risk of diseases and parasites.
v) It makes the male animals to be familiar with its site.

WAYS IN WHICH ANIMALS DEFEND THEIR TERRITORY

i) By displaying of visual signs (signs that quickly attract the sense of sight).
ii) By auditory signs or signals (signals in form of sound).
iii) By producing smell signal that drives away other animals.
iv.) SEASONAL MIGRATION: this is the movement of animals in response to unfavourable climatic
conditions, food availability and to ensure reproduction. Animals migrate in order to bear their young
ones in places relatively safe from predator and rich in resources. Seasonal Migration can be seen in
certain birds such as swallows, storks, cattle egrets. Fishes such as barbells, maid fishes, eels, salmons.
 TASKS
GUIDED PRACTICE
Hidden facts in Biology, pages 373-376 (example questions)

INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Give a neat, well arranged and well detailed summary of this note

HOT TASK
Hidden facts in Biology, page 376 (exercise 18.13, questions 1, 3, 5,7,8,9 and 10)

JOURNAL
Neatly draw and label the structure of a winged termite