Communal nesting in the usually solitary marsupial, Phascogale tapoatafa

Predation by Argyrodes ( Theridiidae ) on Solitary and Communal Spiders

Species of Argyrodes Simon (Theridiidae) are best known as kleptoparasites in the webs of other spiders, particularly in the tropics (Exline 1945; Exline and Levi 1962; Kaston 1965; Vollrath 1976, 1978, 1979). They live in or near the webs of their hosts and take prey from the host’s web. The methods used to take prey from the host vary for different species of Argyrodes and different host spec...

A case of communal nesting in the Neotropical snake Sibynomorphus mikanii (Serpentes, Colubridae)

A molecular genetic analysis of the communal nesting of the ostrich (Struthio camelus).

The ostrich breeding system is complex and unique; communal clutches are laid by several females, although only one female, the major female, and the resident territorial male provide parental care. More eggs are laid in the nest than can be incubated and the major female ejects surplus eggs from the incubated central clutch. Microsatellite markers were used to analyse the parentage of communal...

Socially mediated polyandry: a new benefit of communal nesting in mammals

In many species, females have evolved behavioral strategies to reduce the risk of infanticide. For instance, polyandry can create paternity confusion that inhibits males from killing offspring they could have sired. Here, the authors propose that females could socially obtain the same benefits by nesting communally. Singly sired litters could be perceived as a large multiply sired litter once p...

Taxonomic revision of Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) (Dasyuridae; Marsupialia), including descriptions of two new subspecies and confirmation of P. pirata Thomas, 1904 as a 'Top End' endemic.

The Australian Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa sensu lato) has a broad but highly fragmented distribution around the periphery of the Australian continent and all populations are under significant ongoing threat to survival. A new appraisal of morphological and molecular diversity within the group reveals that the population in the 'Top End' of the Northern Territory is specifical...