Aggression, color signaling, and performance of the male color morphs of a Brazilian lizard (Tropidurus semitaeniatus)

摘要: Behavior can help to establish dominance in intrasexual interactions, preventing more costly aggressive interactions and improving access mates. Distinct color morphs often correlate with behavior, driving differential reproductive success between them. The lizard Tropidurus semitaeniatus usually expresses two male morphs, Yellow or Black. It is likely that play a role reproduction, which still unexplored. Here, we test whether there morph-related during interactions. We used ex situ behavioral trials particular morph shows dominance, gathering by attributing scores aggressive/evasive behaviors. also tested winner individuals show higher performance (sprint speed), spectrophotometric measures of body coloration predict winners encounters. Morphs showed differences behaviors suggesting alternative tactics: Black males behave aggressively less evasively while the opposite sets behavior. tend be dominant, but dominants do not sprint speeds than submissive males. Chest coloration, displayed encounters, highly predicts winnings (particularly high yellow chroma low lightness UV). Our results lizards signal competitive condition behaviorally exposing their chest. Males displaying head bobs darker chests are win suggest might undertake sneaker tactic, aggression costs evasiveness even though they perform similarly Further studies should address female preference biased relation its colorations, would selective processes towards signals maintenance. In struggle for survival often, no single best strategy multiple distinct tactics may evolve. Behavior, signaling, frequently correlated coexist as mating tactics. However, able integrate all these traits scarce. different patterns. differ performances speed) visual signaling (behavioral displays intensity coloration). demonstrate Yellow-morph adopt an (Black-morph) evasive (Yellow-morph) tactic. chest’s dark colorations their dominance status through bob bouts.