Since anoles grow throughout their lifetime one would expect adult mature males to vary in size, and they do. However males of different sizes (ages) don’t fight in the same manner. Fights between younger males (the “lightweight” life-stage morphs) are more dependant on jumping ability whereas fights between the older “heavyweight” males are more often settled by bite-force[6] (see figure 4).This makes sense since lizards tend to gain bite force with size [7] (see figure 3.A). Likewise greater locomotor capacity (sprinting/movement speed) has been linked to dominance in male lizards [8]. Garland suggests that could be due to subtle differences in display behaviour like headbobbing speed. Importantly locomotor capacity trait is heritable [9]. |
Figure 4. is taken from [6] and Figure 3.A is from [7]
|