Natale: Mating Behavior

This is a Callinectes sapidus. It was found at 27°30'39.43" -82°42'43.12".  While mating, the male holds the female against it for prolonged periods of time not only to mate, but to protect the female while she molts and also to prevent any other male from mating with her.

This is a Spheniscus demersus.  It was found at 42°21'33.53" -71°02'56.42". The pair performs an extensive ritual consisting of circling around one another and hitting beaks against each other.  The male will then proceed to climb onto the females back to mate.