Showing posts with label mating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mating. Show all posts

Saturday, 5 June 2010

Buffalo Courtship

I was riding along when I noticed these buffaloes nuzzling and rubbing heads rather affectionately.  Scenes like these are quite the norm around Langkawi and are just "Kodak moments" in the mind's eye so this morning I was glad to have my camera on hand for a few shots.

 

 

Next thing you know, I felt like I had caught them in the act instead.

 

 

After that, it was back to more adorable head rubs and nuzzling...

 

 

Happy buffaloes... 

The rain has certainly brought some cheer!

 

 

Monday, 10 August 2009

Damselflies In Wheel

Dragonflies and damselflies have very unique and unusual mating behaviours.

Mating usually take place near ponds, lakes, streams and rivers as the majority of dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs in water.  The male dragonfly will stake out an area that is a suitable egg-laying site and maintain patrol over this territory to defend it while looking out for a female mate.  Should another male of the same species enter this territory, a chase will ensue to get the intruder off.  Nevertheless, several different species can often be seen patrolling the same area. 

Courtship may be brief or nonexistent for many dragonflies and quite complex for most damselflies.  A mating pair is referred to as being "in wheel position" or in copula as their bodies form a rough circle, and almost a heart-shape sometimes, while mating.

Here's looking at a pair of Ischnura senegalensis in wheel position...

 

A mating pair may remain in the wheel position for a few seconds in some dragonflies and up to a few hours for many damselflies...