It’s Not the Size of the Salamander, It’s the Size of the Fight in the Salamander - ScienceDaily

[pete]

ScienceDaily (Dec. 3, 2010) — Don't get between a salamander and her eggs. The concept usually applies to a mother bear and her cubs, but it rings true for this small amphibian as well -- particularly as the eggs get closer to hatching. A study has found that female salamanders grow more aggressive in defending their nests as their eggs mature. Other factors, including the size of the mother, were insignificant.

An article in the December 2010 issue of the journal Herpetologica describes the behavior of the eastern red-backed salamander, found in forests of North America. The females proved to be more vigorous about guarding clutches of eggs than territory or food.

The study was conducted in a laboratory setting, using wild salamanders caught in New Hampshire. Female salamanders and their nests of eggs were "threatened" by the introduction of a nonbrooding female salamander for 15-minute intervals.

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Read more: It’s not the size of the salamander, it’s the size of the fight in the salamander

 

[Linus]

Ha! This is great

 

[RobM]

Thank you, that was an interesting read, and quite surprising considering a lot of salamander parents seem to eat their own eggs!

 

[DeCypher]

Cannibalism among species is very interesting to me. If they want to propogate the species, why would they eliminate members of their own species?! I just don't get it...

 

[Kaysie]

You can't mate with other females. They're just competition for resources for your own offspring. The more 'other' females you eat, the more food/space/mates your own offspring will have. The salamanders aren't thinking about propagating the species, but spreading their own genes.