Dissociated Reproductive Pattern
found in northern US and Canada
hibernate 9 months out of the year, emerging from hibernation late Spring
males emerge �en masse�, while the females emerge singly
as each female emerges from hibernation, a group of males will surround the female forming a �mating ball�
- female secretes an attractant pheromone on her skin that stimulates �chin-rubbing� from males
- chin rubbing is the male�s courtship response and involves the male moving up and down the back of the female rapidly and repeatedly with his chin while flicking his tongue on the female�s back (contacts pheromone)
- eventually one male in the �mating ball� will copulate with the female--the male will align himself along the female and will intromit a hemipenis into the female�s cloaca