7 • J. Adv. Zool. 2021 : 42(1) J. Adv. Zool. 2021: 42(1) : 7-19 ISSN-0253-7214 COPULATION BEHAVIORS OF INDIAN VULTURE (GYPS INDICUS) IN UDAIPUR DISTRICT, RAJASTHAN, INDIA Narayan Lal Choudhary* and Nadim Chishty** Research Scholar*, Associate Professor** Wildlife, Limnology & Toxicology Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Government Meera Girl’s College (Mohanlal Sukhadia University) Udaipur, Rajasthan, India-313 001 Email id- narayanlalchoudhary1995@gmail.com, nadimchishty@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Frequency of copulation was recorded in Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) throughout the year or before and after egg laying periods. During the study total average 192 to 193 copulation attempts were recorded in each breeding pairs of Indian vulture. Maximum copulation attempts were observed in morning (6.00-8.00 and 8.00- 10.00 am) and evening (4.00-6.00pm) hours. Very few copulations attempts were observed afternoon (12.00 to 4.00 pm). Overall mean copulations attempts were highest recorded in month of October (10.4) followed by September (6.733), April (2.667), November (2.3), May (2.3), March (2.13) and lowest copulations attempts were recorded in June (1.9) or summer season. No copulation attempts were sighted during Dec – February month, the reason for this might be, because during these months Indian vultures usually spend time in incubation and pre hatchling cares. During study in study area before copulation aerial display behavior was completely absent in Indian vulture. Allopreening and self-preening activities were frequently sighted before and after copulations. KEYWORDS: Indian vulture, frequency of copulation, aerial display, Allopreening, self- preening. INTRODUCTION Normally vertebrates perform limited attempts of copulation for increase their progeny while some species performed numerous attempts of copulation throughout year before and after fertilization takes place like dolphins, birds 21,32 . A vulture shows monogamous behavior and remains throughout their life cycle. In Gyps genus male and females usually performs aerial display before copulation 1 . The aerial display in vultures could be seen one to three times before matting in time interval of 5-20 minutes and some time more than 20 minutes 6 . The aerial display of Accipitridae family for the Gyps genus were not a highly specialized and majestic as compare to other raptors 8,14,18 . Some largest vulture’s performed very simplest types of aerial display and flights during day time. Generally vultures performed two types of aerial display one is cyclic in which two or more individuals fly parallel. Cyclic display behavior was generally seemed throughout the years when two or more than two vultures flying together 20 . The aerial display for long billed vulture is cyclic in which females flight slightly lower heights as compare to male. The aerial display of Indian vultures was recorded 5-20 minutes and sometimes half hours 9 . In other vulture species like Gypaetus barbatus perform gymnastic aerial display during breeding season at the end of January and begging of February of every year 2 . Reciprocal preening was frequently shown in vultures