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

Baird, Troy A.

doi:10.1655/03-17

Cited by 60 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Why did female collared lizards not compensate in a similar manner? Unlike other lizards that have been found to rely more on crypsis while gravid, female collared lizards are visually more conspicuous in their environment when gravid due to the presence of large orange markings on the dorsolateral portion of the trunk (Ferguson 1976;Baird 2004). Even if the visual systems of collared lizard predators are diVerent to those of human observers, which they most likely are, the intensity contrast alone would make gravid female collared lizards conspicuous against the grey rocks of Sooner Lake (Macedonia et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Wrst run was prior to gravidity in late April, whereas the second run was during the Wrst clutch in May-June. Gravidity is easily assessed in collared lizards by palpating their abdomens (Baird 2004). For this study, gravid females had eggs greater than approximately 8 mm maximum diameter with the eggs in the late, round vitellogenic stage or the early, oval shelling stage.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do female collared lizards change field use of maximal sprint speed capacity when gravid?

Husak

2006

Oecologia

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Locomotor ability is well-documented to decrease in gravid female lizards. However, no studies have examined what proportion of maximal sprint speed capacity gravid females use in nature or how a reduction in maximal capacity translates to changes in sprint speeds used in nature. Gravid females may compensate for reduced locomotor ability by increasing the proportion of their maximal capacity used in nature, or by changing their antipredator behaviour. I measured maximal sprint speed in the laboratory for female collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris) while gravid and nongravid and then compared those to speeds used in the field while foraging and escaping predators, and also while gravid and nongravid. Females had significantly lower maximal sprint speed capacity while gravid, and they ran slower while foraging and escaping predators. However, gravid females did not increase the proportion of maximal capacity used in those contexts compared to when not gravid. Gravid females compensated for reduced locomotor capacity by staying closer to refugia but not by remaining more cryptic. These results suggest that the costs of reduced locomotor capacity may not be associated with direct costs while foraging or escaping predators, but instead with potential indirect effects associated with the change in antipredator behaviour.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do female collared lizards change field use of maximal sprint speed capacity when gravid?

Husak

2006

Oecologia

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“…Most of these studies reported a relationship between female colourations and reproductive state (Ferguson 1976;Cooper et al 1983;Watkins 1997;Cuadrado 2000;LeBas & Marshall 2000;Hager 2001;Weiss 2002;Baird 2004); for example, the throat colouration of female Sceloporus virgatus changes seasonally and the colour intensity peaks near the time of ovulation (Weiss 2002(Weiss , 2006. In some cases, males have been shown to respond to female ornaments by increasing courtship towards ovulating females while reducing courtship to non-receptive females (Baird 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The yellow cheek-patches of the Hermann's tortoise (Reptilia, Chelonia): Sexual dimorphism and relationship with body condition

Galeotti

Sacchi

Pellitteri‐Rosa

et al. 2011

Italian Journal of Zoology

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Males and females of Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni) exhibit a conspicuous yellow patch on both their cheeks, whose origin and potential function are totally unknown. In this study, we measured the extent and the colour intensity of these patches in 29 male and 19 female tortoises in order to test for sexual difference in these features. In addition, we analysed the relationships between patch features and body condition to investigate the possible function of these ornaments as status signals. We detected symmetric yellow patches in all sampled females, while five males did not show at all the ornament, and two had a yellow patch only on the left cheek. Although head and scale size, as well as RGB values, did not differ between sexes, female patches were significantly larger than those of males. In addition, the extent of cheek patches was correlated to female body condition, suggesting that these ornaments may have evolved as honest signals of quality through sexual selection processes driven by female-female contests over rank or by male mate choice.

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“…Collared lizards are highly reliant on vision both in foraging (Fitch 1956;Husak and Ackland 2003) and intraspecific contexts, where signals typically incorporate bright colors and push-up and head-bob displays (Baird et al 2001;Macedonia et al 2004). Visual signals convey information on age, reproductive status, and identity, and thereby play a role in courtship displays and aggressive territorial disputes (Baird et al 2001;Baird 2004;Husak et al 2004). Previous studies focusing on the discrimination of prey via chemical stimuli in ambush foraging iguanids, including C. collaris, concluded that these visually oriented foragers did not utilize chemical stimuli in prey discrimination (Cooper 1989;Cooper et al 1996Cooper et al , 2001.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discrimination of chemical stimuli in conspecific fecal pellets by a visually adept iguanid lizard, Crotaphytus collaris

Wilgers

Horne

2008

J Ethol

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Iguanid lizards are known for visual acuity and a diminished vomeronasal organ, which has led to mixed conclusions on whether iguanids use chemical cues. The collared lizard, Crotaphytus collaris, is a territorial iguanid that lives in open rocky habitats. Fecal pellets placed prominently on open rocky perches may provide an ideal mechanism for intraspecific chemical signaling. In order to determine whether collared lizards can discriminate between chemical stimuli found in conspecific fecal pellets, we collected 24 males and 25 females to analyze sexspecific behavioral responses via tongue-flicks and a newly observed behavior for the species, gular pumps, to cotton swabs containing water, cologne, chemical stimuli from conspecific male and female fecal pellets, and the lizard's own fecal pellet. Both sexes were able to discriminate chemical stimuli from water via at least one behavior. Male collared lizards exhibited greater rates of response (tongueflick and gular pumps) toward male fecal pellets when compared to the negative water control. Our results also suggest individuals may be able to discriminate between fecal pellets, as indicated by generally greater (but nonsignificant) counts of male tongue-flick responses to male fecal pellets when compared to their own. Collared lizard chemical discrimination appears to utilize tongue-flick and gular pump behaviors, possibly associated with distinct chemosensory modes (vomerolfaction and olfaction). Based on this study, we suggest that chemical signals may play a greater role in intraspecific communication than previously thought in this highly visual lizard.

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

Cited by 60 publications

References 41 publications

Do female collared lizards change field use of maximal sprint speed capacity when gravid?

Do female collared lizards change field use of maximal sprint speed capacity when gravid?

The yellow cheek-patches of the Hermann's tortoise (Reptilia, Chelonia): Sexual dimorphism and relationship with body condition

Discrimination of chemical stimuli in conspecific fecal pellets by a visually adept iguanid lizard, Crotaphytus collaris

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