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Sex differences in antipredator tail-waving displays of the diurnal yellow-headed gecko Gonatodes albogularis from tropical forests of Colombia

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Abstract

Many vertebrate species show display behaviors when predators are in their vicinity. Some of these displays may inform the predator of the improbability of capturing the prey (i.e., pursuit-deterrent displays) and are potentially advantageous to both predator and prey. Here we present data on a tail display performed by Gonatodes albogularis, a diurnal tropical gecko. We performed transect surveys in three habitats near Bogotá in Colombia. Geckos detected during transects were approached by the observer in a standardized way, and details of their tail-waving displays were recorded. In control recordings animals were watched from a distant site without approaching them. Results showed sexual differences in tail-waving display: when approached by the observer, males performed this behavior more frequently than females. We found no significant differences between males and females in flight-initiation distances and height above the substratum when they were initially located. Results also showed that males displayed more frequently when approached than when the simulated predator remained stationary. We interpret these results as evidence that the display functions as a pursuit-deterrent signal to potential predators. However, as some tail displays were performed in the presence of conspecifics, the display may also have a social function.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Universidad Católica de Colombia for funding to perform the study. Universidad Externado de Colombia also supported some logistic actions. We also thank the students Cristian Camilo Rincón Mendieta, Diego Armando Plazas Burgos, Diana Marcela Rojas Lara, and Jorge Alberto Cure Arango, and Professor M.L. Calderón for their help during logistic operations in the field. The International Relationships Office of the University of La Laguna provided financial support for the travel of M. Molina-Borja to Colombia to participate in the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Católica de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

    Martha L. Bohórquez Alonso & David Aguilar Pardo

  2. Fac. Ciencias Sociales y Humanas, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

    Jorge Martínez Cotrina

  3. Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Univ. Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Enrique Font

  4. Lab. Etología, Depto. Biología Animal, Univ. La Laguna, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

    Martha L. Bohórquez Alonso & Miguel Molina-Borja

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  1. Martha L. Bohórquez Alonso
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  2. Jorge Martínez Cotrina
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  5. Miguel Molina-Borja
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Correspondence to Miguel Molina-Borja.

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Bohórquez Alonso, M.L., Martínez Cotrina, J., Aguilar Pardo, D. et al. Sex differences in antipredator tail-waving displays of the diurnal yellow-headed gecko Gonatodes albogularis from tropical forests of Colombia. J Ethol 28, 305–311 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-009-0186-4

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