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Related Experiment Video

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Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards

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Published on: December 14, 2006

Intersexual chemo-sensation in a "visually-oriented" lizard, Anolis sagrei.

Simon Baeckens¹, Tess Driessens¹, Raoul Van Damme¹

¹Laboratory of Functional Morphology, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp , Wilrijk , Belgium.

|April 13, 2016

Summary

Male brown anoles (Anolis sagrei) show increased display behaviors and tongue extrusions when sensing female chemical cues. This study provides the first evidence of intersexual chemo-sensation in anole lizards.

Keywords:

Chemical communication Dactyloidae Dewlap extensions Display behaviour Iguania Semiochemicals Signalling Squamata Tongue-flick

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Area of Science:

Herpetology
Animal Behavior
Chemical Ecology

Background:

Anole lizards are known for visual communication, but chemical signaling is understudied.
Understanding anole communication requires exploring all sensory modalities.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the potential for chemical communication in brown anoles (Anolis sagrei).
To determine if male anoles respond to chemical cues left by females.

Main Methods:

Observing male anole behavior in a cage previously occupied by females versus a control cage.
Quantifying display behaviors (dewlap extensions, head-nods) and tongue extrusions.

Main Results:

Males exhibited significantly more elaborate displays and tongue extrusions in the female-scented cage.
Tongue extrusion rates were lower than in 'true' chemically-oriented lizards.
Results suggest males detected female chemical cues.

Conclusions:

This study presents the first evidence of intersexual chemo-sensation in anole lizards.
Chemical cues play a role in anole social interactions, complementing visual signals.