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Mating behavior in the Japanese badger Meles anakuma

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Abstract

We describe the details of the mating behavior of the Japanese badger, Meles anakuma, using camera trapping. Similar to other mustelid species, the females copulated with multiple males (mean = 3.0). Repeated mounting with the same male was observed, occurring 3.4 times on average. The average duration of the mounting bout was approximately 70 min, which was much longer than that observed for the congener M. meles. Following the initial mounting bout, males constructed a rest site by gathering fallen leaves and branches close to the female sett. Males rested at these sites between mounting bouts, likely to guard their mates from rival males. The mating pairs displayed a preference for returning to the same location for copulatory activities, which resulted in the dispersal of fallen leaves and surface soil disturbance. We found that some males restored the copulation site by covering it with leaves, soil, and branches after all mating behaviors were completed. This action prevented rival males from locating females, especially if they relied on olfactory cues from the copulation sites. Our study reveals interspecific differences in mating behavior within Meles and the relationship between social systems and mating behavior. Digital video images related to this article are available at http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo240213ma01a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo240213ma02a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo240213ma04a, http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo240213ma05a, and http://www.momo-p.com/showdetail-e.php?movieid=momo240213ma06a.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the chief priests of Shunryuji, Jinfukuji, Myoukiji, Houmyouin, and Zuiyouji for their permission to perform the fieldwork and for providing information.

Funding

This study was partially financed by a grant from the Yamaguchi Prefecture Environmental Conservation Activities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Zoology, Yamaguchi Prefectural Yamaguchi Museum, 8-2 Kasuga, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, 753-0073, Japan

    Hiroshi Tanaka

  2. TopOutImages, Shibafuji, Kawaguchi City, Saitama, 333-0854, Japan

    Yukihiro Fukuda & Etsuko Yuki

  3. Graduate School of Sciences and Technology for Innovation, Yamaguchi University, 1677-1 Yoshida, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, 753-8511, Japan

    Wataru Kojima

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Tanaka
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  2. Yukihiro Fukuda
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  3. Etsuko Yuki
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  4. Wataru Kojima
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Contributions

HT designed the study. HT, YF, and EY collected the data. HT and WK analyzed the data. HT and WK prepared the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroshi Tanaka.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for animal care and use were followed. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Supplementary Information

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Supplementary file1 Fig. S1. A mating site of Japanese badgers formed through copulation activities (PDF 248 KB)

Supplementary file2 (XLSX 15 KB)

Supplementary file3 Video 1. Refusal behavior of female Japanese badgers (Meles anakuma) before mounting. A male badger produced “churring” mating calls, though the male was outside view of the camera. A female emerged from the sett in response to the mating calls and chased him while barking. The male ran away. (46.7 MB, 00:00:27). Shot Date: 2018/3/23. Shot Location: Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, Japan. Other information: Use of Canon camera system with video light. Species: Meles anakuma. Key Words: Refusal behavior, Mating call, Scent-marking, Chasing (MOV 46708 KB)

Supplementary file4 Video 2. Mating behavior of the Japanese badger Meles anakuma. A male entered a sett by producing mating calls. Subsequently, he bit the female and let her leave. He subsequently held her between his paws in a mounting posture and copulated with her. (10.7 MB, 00:00:50). Shot Date: 2017/3/1. Shot Location: Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, Japan. Other information: Use of Canon camera system with video light. Species: Meles anakuma. Key Words: Copulation, Mounting, Mating call, Scent-marking (MOV 10667 KB)

Supplementary file5 Video 3. Mating behavior of the Japanese badger Meles anakuma. Males were closer to female setts. The female emerged from her sett and lowered her head. The male immediately bit the neck. He subsequently held her between his paws in a mounting posture and copulated with her. (39.7 MB, 00:00:32). Shot Date: 2017/3/4. Shot Location: Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, Japan. Species: Meles anakuma. Key Words: Copulation, Mounting, Mating call, Scent-marking (MOV 39673 KB)

Supplementary file6 Video 4. Time-lapse images of concealing behavior at a mating site by a male Japanese badger (Meles anakuma) after copulation. A male copulated with a female from 13:18 to 15:06 when he pressed the female against the ground. The male completed copulation at 15:07. At the time, the ground at the mating site was bare. The male had completely covered evidence of mating (i.e., bare ground) with fallen leaves and soil at 15:12. (14.2 MB, 00:00:23). Shot Date: 2015/4/16. Shot Location: Chino City, Nagano, Japan. Other information: Use of flashlight. Species: Meles anakuma. Key Words: Concealing behavior, Mating site (MOV 14167 KB)

Supplementary file7 Video 5. An intruding male slowly approached the mating pair and attacked the mounting male, thereby interrupting copulation. The intruder ran away, and the female headed for the sett. (24.9 MB, 00:00:24). Shot Date: 2018/3/15. Shot Location: Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi, Japan. Other information: Use of an infrared video camera. Species: Meles anakuma. Keywords: Interrupting copulation, Intruding male, Mating site, Mounting male (MOV 25529 KB)

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Tanaka, H., Fukuda, Y., Yuki, E. et al. Mating behavior in the Japanese badger Meles anakuma. J Ethol 42, 89–96 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-024-00810-y

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