Stress reaction for salamanders

For most animals, stress is a turn-off – but not for male spotted salamanders.

The dotted amphibians are explosive breeders, gathering together en masse for a brief period during which males deposit packages of sperm for collection by females.

New research shows that males respond to danger – in this case, human handling – by depositing more sperm when they next meet a female.

While other animals would postpone reproduction until the threat has passed, salamanders have evolved to consider they may not get another chance – and should go out with a bang.

Source Journal of Zoology