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  3. Post-Copulatory-Stance

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Post-Copulatory-Stance

An estrous female stepping forward from the male she has just mated, Head-Raising, Ear-Lifting, Rapid-Ear-Flapping and Tail-Raising, while streaming with Temporin and calling with a characteristic series of Open-Mouthed Estrous-Rumbles, or an Estrous-Song. The mated female turns, alternatively, toward the male, reaching her trunk to touch his penis (Trunk-to-Genitals) or to sniff his semen (Sniff-Semen) on the ground. The female then turns rapidly outward and upward in a kind of Pirouette (away from the male, perhaps to ensure long-distance advertisement of availability,) and again, head high, ears lifted and flapping vigorously, continuing her calling. Her calls are repeated at lengthening intervals and diminishing sound pressure levels.

Media caption

Esau and estrous female Amparo mate. Esau dismounts and immediately the estrous female begins her Post-Copulatory-Stance, which includes Orienting-Away from the male and Rumbling with her Estrous-Song with an Open-Mouth and Rapid-Ear-Flapping. She also Tail-Swats her mate. Amparo calls three times during this clip.

Note that due to the distance at which we recorded this behavior and the windy conditions we have overlapped her calling with Estrous-Rumbles previously recorded from another estrous female. (Amboseli, Kenya)