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Chemical recognition of conspecifics in a neotropical lizard, Liolaemus pacha (Iguania: Liolaemidae): relation to visual displays, season and sex

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Abstract

Chemical cues play an important role in sexual recognition in several lizard species. Here, we investigated whether the neotropical lizard, Liolaemus pacha (Iguania: Liolaemidae) can discriminate between chemical information obtained from males or females. In addition, we also considered the effect of season (reproductive vs. post-reproductive) and the sex of the tested individual. We experimentally tested scent discrimination, using a terrarium previously occupied by a male, a female, and an untreated terrarium as control as sources of different chemical scents. We counted the number of tongue flicks, a measure of chemical exploratory behavior, and the visual displays triggered by these scents for 10 min. Males performed significantly more tongue flicks when female scent was present than when male and control scents were present, indicating sexual recognition. However, females did not show a significant difference in those same conditions, indicating a lack of sexual recognition. For visual displays, males showed significantly higher rates to female and male scents than to control, whereas females did not show any difference. During the reproductive season, the number of tongue flicks and visual displays were higher than during the post-reproductive season. Our results suggest that for male L. pacha, chemical cues play an important role in mate recognition. We discuss the apparent lack of recognition in females. We suggest that the observed seasonal behavioral differences might be associated with physiological changes related mainly to reproduction.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. We also thank field assistants who have accompanied us to the field site, Recursos Naturales y Suelos of the Tucumán province for permission to work in the field (Res: 169-13, Expte. No. 936-330-2012), CONICET for a scholarship to NSV, and Fundación Miguel Lillo (MH) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo, Fundación Miguel Lillo, CONICET, Miguel Lillo 251, 4000, Tucumán, Argentina

    Natalin S. Vicente

  2. Instituto de Comportamiento Animal, Fundación Miguel Lillo, Miguel Lillo 251, 4000, Tucumán, Argentina

    Monique Halloy

Authors
  1. Natalin S. Vicente
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  2. Monique Halloy
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Correspondence to Natalin S. Vicente.

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Animal care and experiments were conducted according to guidelines for the use of animals in research, published in Animal Behaviour (1991). All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors.

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Vicente, N.S., Halloy, M. Chemical recognition of conspecifics in a neotropical lizard, Liolaemus pacha (Iguania: Liolaemidae): relation to visual displays, season and sex. J Ethol 34, 329–335 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-016-0479-3

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