Behavioral Ecology Of The Brown Anole, Anolis sagrei: Aggressive Interactions And The Effects Of Gender And Size

There are many factors that influence aggression in lizards. This study investigated the effects of gender and size upon aggressive responses of adult male Anolis sagrei. Field and laboratory experiments were conducted by presenting adult males with either adult male, adult female, or juvenile intruders. We found that adult males respond with significantly higher levels of aggression toward other adult males than to either adult females or juveniles. Courtship behavior or advertisement displays were usually observed when males were presented with females. This is understandable because during the breeding season males want to mate with females, not chase them away. When presented with juveniles, males either ignored juveniles or responded with the lowest level of aggression. This suggests that juveniles may be tolerated within a males’ territory until the juvenile approaches a mature adult size