Abstract
The reproductive behavior of the Japanese salamander, Hynobius retardatus, was observed in the laboratory. The sequence of reproductive behavior was: 1) males grasped twigs in the water and the female hid herself beneath a broad leaf on the bottom, 2) the female began to swim restlessly, 3) males turned their heads to ward the female, 4) the female grasped the twig, 5) the female pressed her vent against the twig, 6) males turned their heads toward the female's vent, 7) the female rubbed her vent over the twig, 8) males brought their snouts close to the female's vent, 9) the female elevated her tail, 10) the male grasping the upper position of the twig held the female's waist, 11) the female began egg-sac laying, 12) the male pulled egg sacs out of the female's vent, 13) other males began to scramble for egg sacs, 14) the female fell to the bottom and hid herself beneath a leaf, 15) males ceased to hold egg sacs, and 16) males paid no attention to the egg sacs. On an average, the males required 571.3 sec for the behaviors from 3 to 15, and the females required 68.5 sec for the behaviors from 4 to 14.
