Retief, Tarryn AnneBennett, Nigel CharlesKinahan, A.A.Bateman, Philip W.2016-12-152016-12-152013-09Retief, TA, Bennett, NC, Kinahan, AA & Bateman, PW 2013, 'Sexual selection and genital allometry in the Hottentot golden mole (Amblysomus hottentotus)', Mammalian Biology, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 356-360.1616-5047 (print)1618-1476 (online)10.1016/j.mambio.2012.12.002http://hdl.handle.net/2263/58415Under sexual selection, genitalia typically undergo rapid and divergent evolution across species and competition between the sexes over control of fertilisation may drive the co-evolution of male and female sexual traits. Sexual selection can, therefore, influence genitalia in three fundamental but non-mutually exclusive ways: (1) cryptic female choice, (2) sperm competition and (3) sexual conflict. Golden moles (Chrysochloridae) are a highly specialised family endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. We examined intraspecific genital allometry of both male and female subterranean Hottentot golden moles (Amblysomus hottentotus). Consistent with previous studies in mammals, we found positive allometry and a high coeffi- cient of variation (CV) for male genitalia. The results for female reproductive tract length of A. hottentotus contrast with the findings of previous studies as isometry was recorded. Based on the allometric relationships of both males and females presented here, we suggest that the males do not sequester females and that in the absence of visual cues the female may use penis size as an indicator of phenotypic quality.en© 2012 Deutsche Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde. Published by Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Mammalian Biology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. A definitive version was subsequently published in Mammalian Biology, vol. 78, no. 5, pp. 356-360, 2013. doi : 10.1016/j.mambio.2012.12.002.AllometryGenitalAmblysomusGolden moles (Chrysochloridae)Coefficient of variation (CV)Postprint Article