Male lizards of the genus Anolis are famous for their complex visual displays, in which they move their head and body up and down in conspicuous motion patterns, as well as the showing of a colorful throat fan called the dewlap. These signals are used to attract mates, as well as when asserting dominance over other males within a territory. It has been hypothesized that these displays might vary when the distance to the viewer, light intensity, and temperature are changed. Using Anolis sagrei, one male Anolis (stimulus male) was isolated on a large petri dish, using putty as restraints, and placed in front of another male Anolis (target male) in a glass tank. The resulting displays were captured on video and analyzed with a motion analysis program. The stimulus male was positioned at distances of 38.1cm, 78.74cm and 120.65cm from the target male. The effect of changing the cage temperature and light intensity was also tested. Target lizards displayed in all conditions, but there were distinct changes in the display motion patterns and use of the dewlap with the changes in experimental conditions.
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