Contextual signalling and the structure of dyadic encounters in Anolis carolinensis

McMann, Stephen

doi:10.1006/anbe.1993.1242

Cited by 55 publications

(34 citation statements)

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“…For both sexes most displays are simple push-ups with head-bobbing, as seen for a wide diversity of lizard species from other continents and other phylogenetic lineages (Jenssen 1977;McMann 1993;Martins 1991Martins , 1993Martins and Lamont 1998;Watt and Joss 2003;Martins et al 2004). These movements are usually performed when the lizards are solitary, and thus function as non-directed displays; we discuss their possible significance below.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The language of lizards: interpreting the function of visual displays of the Indian rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis (Agamidae)

Radder

Saidapur

Shine

et al. 2006

J Ethol

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The first step in understanding any communication system is to document signal diversity relative to the context of signalling (e.g. sex of the signaller and audience). Observation of 30 free-ranging rock lizards (Psammophilus dorsalis) on rock outcrops in southern India over a period of 18 months revealed that these lizards produce a complex array of ritualized signals involving push-ups (headbobbing), dorsal flattening, extension of the legs or gular region, and tail-raising. Push-ups were performed by both sexes, usually after moving from one location to another. Push-ups were rarely accompanied by other postural modifications, and seem to function as non-directed signals. Dorsal flattening was elicited by birds flying overhead, and seems to make the lizard less conspicuous to predators. There was, nonetheless, a strong sex difference in the frequency of this behaviour, because the habitats used by males (open rocks) exposed them to more birds. Males displayed to females by extending their gular folds and arching their backs; other animals (e.g. squirrels, monkeys) also elicited the latter posture from both sexes. Leg extension was observed for both males and females, but in different contexts -males in response to conspecifics, females in response to other animals. Females raised their tails in response to encountering a male. Thus, these lizards have a complex repertoire of postures for predator evasion, for interaction with other species and with conspecifics, and for communicating sex-specific social information about gender (tail-raise) or dominance status (gular extension, leg extension).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The language of lizards: interpreting the function of visual displays of the Indian rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis (Agamidae)

Radder

Saidapur

Shine

et al. 2006

J Ethol

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“…3.3% of resident SVL). Body size is by far the most important physical attribute affecting RHP in lizards and other species [Carpenter, 1995;Hsu et al, 2006;Lopez and Martin, 2001;McMann, 1993;Krishna, 1994, 1998;Summers and Greenberg, 1994;Tokarz, 1985;Zucker and Murray, 1996], as large individuals have a greater capacity to physically displace smaller opponents or to dominate them, and accordingly, size asymmetry between opponents was a critical factor affecting contest outcome in the common wall lizard too. In fact, combats in this species consist mainly of biting and grasping by jaws, whose strength is strictly correlated with the muscle mass [Lappin et al, 2006].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Male–male combats in a polymorphic lizard: residency and size, but not color, affect fighting rules and contest outcome

Sacchi

Pupin

Gentilli

et al. 2009

Aggressive Behavior

107

106

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Theoretical models predict that the outcome of dyadic agonistic encounters between males is influenced by resource-holding potential, resource value, and intrinsic aggressiveness of contestants. Moreover, in territorial disputes residents enjoy a further obvious competitive advantage from the residency itself, owing to the intimate familiarity with their territory. Costs of physical combats are, however, dramatically high in many instances. Thus, signals reliably reflecting fighting ability of the opponents could easily evolve in order to reduce these costs. For example, variation in color morph in polymorphic species has been associated with dominance in several case studies. In this study, we staged asymmetric resident-intruder encounters in males of the common wall lizard Podarcis muralis, a species showing three discrete morphs (white, yellow, and red) to investigate the effects of asymmetries in color morph, residency, and size between contestants on the outcome of territorial contests. We collected aggression data by presenting each resident male with three intruders of different color morph, in three consecutive tests conducted in different days, and videotaping their interactions. The results showed that simple rules such as residency and body size differences could determine the outcome of agonistic interactions: residents were more aggressive than intruders, and larger males were competitively superior to smaller males. However, we did not find any effect of color on male aggression or fighting success, suggesting that color polymorphism in this species is not a signal of status or fighting ability in intermale conflicts.

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“…Head-bobbing behaviour is well documented in many agamids (Brattstorm, 1971;Pandav et al, 2007;Radder et al, 2006), iguanids (Macedonia & Clark, 2001;Martins & Lamont, 1998;Martins et al, 2004;McCann, 1993) and some of the larger scincids (Done & Heatwole, 1977). If this behaviour does increase visual acuity, then in agamids and iguanids it has perhaps arisen for gaining of better visual information about an intruder in their territory and then over a temporal scale, has developed into the species-specific displays seen today.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethogram of courtship and mating behaviour of Sitana cf. ponticeriana (Reptilia: Draconinae: Agamidae) in India

et al. 2013

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The current study describes and interprets the courtship behaviour exhibited by Sitana cf.ponticeriana. An ethogram comprised of 20 behavioural acts was compiled. Though complex communications were lacking in S. cf. ponticeriana, other acts were by and large similar (and perhaps evolutionarily homologous) to other agamids. The courtship behaviour was divided into three distinct patterns -orientation, persuasion and copulation. Gular flap extensions by the males of S. cf. ponticeriana was a peculiar display but not unique to this species. Head bobbing, which is a common feature to many agamids, was rare and functioned to enhance the visual acuity rather than to serve as a social signal. Neck grip was also a very short event performed rapidly by the male to subdue the female. Rest events of the courtship were more or less similar to other types of lizards. Tail twitching and tail twisting seemed to express high levels of arousal rather than ritualized social signals.

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Contextual signalling and the structure of dyadic encounters in Anolis carolinensis

Cited by 55 publications

References 0 publications

The language of lizards: interpreting the function of visual displays of the Indian rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis (Agamidae)

The language of lizards: interpreting the function of visual displays of the Indian rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis (Agamidae)

Male–male combats in a polymorphic lizard: residency and size, but not color, affect fighting rules and contest outcome

Ethogram of courtship and mating behaviour of Sitana cf. ponticeriana (Reptilia: Draconinae: Agamidae) in India

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