The Herpetological Journal

pp. 267-270
Authors: Halloy, Monique

Abstract: Visual displays in lizards are used to convey information related to species, sex, reproductive state, context and even individuality. Two displays that have been reported are headbobs, up and down movements of the head, and forelimb waves, circular movements of the forelegs, the former display generally being more conspicuous and frequent than the latter. Here I investigated these two displays in an iguanian neotropical species, Liolaemus quilmes, from northwestern Argentina. One-hundred-and-fifteen males and females were filmed over six years, in their habitat, during their daily activities. Headbob and forelimb display rates were compared between males and females and between the reproductive and post-reproductive seasons. In addition, the relation between headbob display rates and home range size was explored. As reported for many iguanian lizards, males made significantly more headbob displays than females in both the reproductive and post-reproductive seasons. They also performed more forelimb waves than females in both seasons. Finally, no correlation was found between headbob display rates and home range sizes in any of the two seasons, suggesting that although headbob displays have been associated with territorial defence it does not seem to be associated with the size of the defended area.

Keywords: HEADBOBS, NEOTROPICAL LIZARDS, FORELIMB WAVES, LIOLAEMUS QUILMES, VISUAL DISPLAYS