. Asiatic herpetological research. Reptiles -- Asia Periodicals; Amphibians -- Asia Periodicals. , p. 118 Asiatic Herpetological Research June 1995. FIG. 6. Male Onychodactylus fischeri grasping the egg sac with the hindlimbs in apposition with the vent during spermatophore deposition. Note the distinctive heavy femoral musculature and skin development on the posterior of the hindlimbs. Those individuals that are ready for breeding emerge from hibernation later than those that are not reproductively ready. We believe that the triggering mechanism for breeding is the elevation of the strea
. Asiatic herpetological research. Reptiles -- Asia Periodicals; Amphibians -- Asia Periodicals. , p. 118 Asiatic Herpetological Research June 1995. FIG. 6. Male Onychodactylus fischeri grasping the egg sac with the hindlimbs in apposition with the vent during spermatophore deposition. Note the distinctive heavy femoral musculature and skin development on the posterior of the hindlimbs. Those individuals that are ready for breeding emerge from hibernation later than those that are not reproductively ready. We believe that the triggering mechanism for breeding is the elevation of the stream temperature as can be seen in the increased activity of reproductively ready salamanders when the water temperature reaches 6 to 7° C (Fig. 1). At this time females with open cloacas begin to appear. When water temperatures have reached 8° C most females have opened cloacas and many have oocytes in the body cavity. At 9° C water temperature some females have oocytes in the oviducts. By the time water temperature reaches 10° C most females have oocytes in the oviducts and some are beginning to spawn (Fig. 3). We believe increasing temperature is the primary triggering mechanism for reproductive readiness, courtship behavior and spawning. We found very few post reproductive females on the surface (n=3 in 1990; n=5 in 1991). Very few males were observed on the surface with their legs extended in the reproductive posture. Spawning activity coincided with the period of optimum temperature for activity and low water levels. Salamanders generally remain near the area of spawning until the next reproductive season. These salamanders are sparsely distributed and do not form breeding aggregations. Male salamanders seem to seek out females well before spawning ( 15-20 days), perhaps by olfaction. The males initiate courtship behavior at this time and it may continue for up to 10 days thus assuring that the male is likely to be in attendance to fertilize the eggs when the female
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