Precopulatory and mating behaviour in the Tasmanian bettong Bettongia gaimardi desmarest (Marsupialia : Potoroidae).

Intersexual interactions in Tasmanian bettongs (Bettongia gaimardi) were ob served in dyadic combinations. Several behaviours were associated with agon istic confrontations and occurred in predictable response sequences. There was no evidence of a consort period between males and pre-oestrous females. Overt sexual interactions occurred only on the night of oestrus, coinciden tally with the maintenance of close spatial proximity. During copulation, m ultiple intromissions were regularly achieved but the intervals between suc cessive bouts of these acts generally increased. Males were also observed t o engage in regular attempts at social (urogenital) investigation and were apparently able to detect the reproductive state of all resident females, p resumably utilising olfactory cues. The brevity of sexual interactions occu rring between individuals contrasts with the more complex repertoire of the gregarious large macropodoid marsupials.