Allometric variation among juvenile, adult male and female eastern bearded dragons Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829), with comments on the behavioural implications

Wotherspoon, Danny; Burgin, Shelley

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2010.09.003

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Sexual differences, most notably of secondary sexual characteristics, are a key aspect of within‐species variation impacting on anatomy, behavior, physiology, and life history (Chen, Stuart‐Fox, Hugall, & Symonds, 2012; Deepak et al 2016; Hoops et al, 2017; Littleford‐Colquhoun et al, 2019; McLean, Chan, Dickerson, Moussalli, & Stuart‐Fox, 2016; Stauber & Booth, 2003; Thompson & Withers, 2005; Wotherspoon & Burgin, 2011). Sex‐determination mechanisms in reptiles are incredibly diverse, exhibiting a rich evolutionary history of repeated independent transitions between sex‐determination modes (Alam, Sarre, Gleeson, Georges, & Ezaz, 2018; Gamble et al, 2015; Pokorna & Kratochvil, 2016; Sarre, Ezaz, & Georges, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This pattern might indicate that males bite more forcefully and use biting to compete for access to females (Witten, 1994). Sexual dimorphism in head size (and possibly shape) may be common among agamid lizards (e.g., Hoops et al, 2017; Kuo, Lin, & Lin, 2009; Littleford‐Colquhoun et al, 2019; Stauber & Booth, 2003; Thompson & Withers, 2005; Wotherspoon & Burgin, 2011), and greater bite force associated with greater head size has been found in male eastern water dragons ( Intellagama lesueurii ; Baxter‐Gilbert & Whiting, 2019). Two species of spiny‐tailed agamid Uromastyx do not show obvious sexual differences in head dimensions or bite force but comparisons may be limited by sample size: n = 7:5 and 1:5 (Herrel, Castilla, Al‐Sulaiti, & Wessels, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite‐force performance in sex‐reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

et al. 2020

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Sex‐related differences in morphology and behavior are well documented, but the relative contributions of genes and environment to these traits are less well understood. Species that undergo sex reversal, such as the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), offer an opportunity to better understand sexually dimorphic traits because sexual phenotypes can exist on different chromosomal backgrounds. Reproductively female dragons with a discordant sex chromosome complement (sex reversed), at least as juveniles, exhibit traits in common with males (e.g., longer tails and greater boldness). However, the impact of sex reversal on sexually dimorphic traits in adult dragons is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of sex reversal on bite‐force performance, which may be important in resource acquisition (e.g., mates and/or food). We measured body size, head size, and bite force of the three sexual phenotypes in a colony of captive animals. Among adults, we found that males (ZZm) bite more forcefully than either chromosomally concordant females (ZWf) or sex‐reversed females (ZZf), and this difference is associated with having relatively larger head dimensions. Therefore, adult sex‐reversed females, despite apparently exhibiting male traits as juveniles, do not develop the larger head and enhanced bite force of adult male bearded dragons. This pattern is further illustrated in the full sample by a lack of positive allometry of bite force in sex‐reversed females that is observed in males. The results reveal a close association between reproductive phenotype and bite force performance, regardless of sex chromosome complement.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite‐force performance in sex‐reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

et al. 2020

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Sex and ontogenetic dietary shift in Pogona barbata, the Australian eastern bearded dragon

Wotherspoon

Burgin

2016

Aust. J. Zool.

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Differences may occur in the carnivore–omnivore–herbivore spectrum over the lifespan of a reptilian species, but it seldom occurs between adult males and females. Information regarding the dietary habits of Australian eastern bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) is also limited. We dissected museum specimens and road kills of the Australian eastern bearded dragon to compare ontogenetic shift in diet. Juveniles were insectivorous. They typically consumed larger, more active, arthropod prey than mature individuals – they are active predators. Adults were omnivorous and typically consumed small arthropod prey, and tended to be sit-and-wait predators. Mature males, particularly larger males, were primarily herbivorous. Such divergence in adult reptilian diet has rarely been reported. We suggest that the dietary switches observed are consistent with the Optimum Foraging Model. Juveniles require a high protein diet to maximise growth from juvenile to maturity. Beyond maturity females continue to require higher levels of protein for reproduction than males. At least in part, this is because males rely on sham aggression to defend territory during the reproductive season rather than resorting to aggressive behaviour. This results in a lesser requirement for protein for adult males than is required for juveniles and adult females. Males have the advantage of not being as dependent on protein, and thus are able to rely more heavily on vegetation.

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New information on sexual dimorphism and allometric growth in Keichousaurus hui, a pachypleurosaur from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou, South China

Xue¹,

Jiang

Motani

et al. 2013

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Allometric variation among juvenile, adult male and female eastern bearded dragons Pogona barbata (Cuvier, 1829), with comments on the behavioural implications

Cited by 4 publications

References 31 publications

Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite‐force performance in sex‐reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

Reproductive phenotype predicts adult bite‐force performance in sex‐reversed dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

Sex and ontogenetic dietary shift in Pogona barbata, the Australian eastern bearded dragon

New information on sexual dimorphism and allometric growth in Keichousaurus hui, a pachypleurosaur from the Middle Triassic of Guizhou, South China

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