An Investigation of Kin Recognition Abilities in Larval Four-Toed Salamanders, Hemidactylium scutatum (Caudata: Plethodontidae)

We studied larvae of the four-toed salamander, Hemidactylium scutatum, to determine the ability of individuals to discriminate between related and familiar conspecifics. An assay of agonistic behaviors was used as a measure of recognition. To distinguish between direct recognition and recognition of conspecifics through familiarity (indirect recognition), we used a two factor design yielding four treatments: familiar siblings, unfamiliar siblings, familiar non-siblings, and unfamiliar non-siblings. Larvae of Hemidactylium did not show statistically significant kin recognition ability or the ability to recognize conspecifics based on familiarity. These results are consistent with the larval ecology of these organisms, which is characterized by a low population density and no schooling behavior.