Body Colors Indicate the Reproductive Status of Female Common Chameleons: Experimental Evidence for the Intersex Communication Function

Abstract

Female common chameleons, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, show temporary body color changes during the reproductive season, probably in synchrony with their reproductive status. In a field study, the color changes of 21 radio‐tagged females were monitored for the apparent effects that three selected colorations (green body with yellow lines, green body with yellow spots and black body with yellow spots, abbreviated to GYL, GYS and BYS, respectively) had on the reproductive behavior of both sexes. In a field experiment, females naturally displaying GYL were artificially painted to resemble GYL (or control), GYS and BYS. They were released in the wild and the response of males was recorded. The frequency of male‐female behaviors, the pairing time and the outcome of male copulation attempts were consistent with the respective neutral (GYL), receptive (GYS) and gravid (BYS) functions of female color phases since a high percentage of copulations occurred during the short‐term GYS phase, whereas all copulation attempts by males were violently rejected during the BYS phase. In addition, BYS females also displayed specific behavioral postures to prevent matings. In the field experiment, the number of approaching males and the strength of the response by males were significantly higher for painted GYS females. The data show strong evidence that temporary body color changes in female common chameleons are associated with changes in their reproductive status and hence, function as signals used in inter‐sex communication.

Exploring the function of red colouration in female spiny-footed lizards (Acanthodactylus erythrurus): patterns of seasonal colour change

“…Fourth, colouration might indicate that females are gravid, i.e., not receptive, thus reducing male interest in courtship and aggressive male behaviour associated with mating. This function implies that female colouration is acquired after mating (Cuadrado, 2000;Hager, 2001). The first three hypotheses mentioned above involve mating-related functions and are not mutually exclusive.…”

Reproductive Coloration in Female Collared Lizards, Crotophytus Collaris, Stimulates Courtship by Males

“…Females develop sex-specific ornamental coloration in association with their reproductive cycles in diverse taxa, including fish (Baird, 1988a;Rowland et al, 1991), reptiles (Cooper and Greenberg, 1992;Cuadrado, 2000;Watkins, 1997), birds (Montgomerie and Thornhill, 1989;Roulin et al, 2001), and mammals (Dixson, 1983). Among reptiles, females of numerous lizard species develop sex-specific coloration on the throat and/or lateral torso (Cooper and Greenberg, 1992;Zucker and Boecklen, 1990).…”

Thermoregulation and activity pattern of the high-mountain lizard Phymaturus palluma (Tropiduridae) in Chile

“…In many vertebrates, males tend to be more colorful than the females, particularly during the reproductive season (COOPER et al 1983, COOPER 1988, WATKINS 1997, whereas females tend to have the same colors as the substrate, decreasing the risk of predation, especially during pregnancy (ENDLER 1978, COOPER & GREENBERG 1992, ANDERSON 1994, WATKINS 1997, CUADRADO 2000, MACEDONIA et al 2000. Males and females of P. palluma showed sexual dimorphism in color pattern and morphology.…”