Display behavior of Leiocephalus (Iguanidae).

Abstract

The taxonomic order of all living things is in a constant state of change due to changes in taxonomic tools. Species-specific behavior patterns, which are innate and stereotyped, are becoming one of the new tools which aid in taxonomic allocation. The objectives of the study were to identify species-specific pushup patterns for four subspecies of the West Indian iguanid lizard genus Leiocephalus. Three of these were subspecies of L. carinatus and the fourth form was of a different species, L. schreibersi. A comparison was made of each of the four population-specific patterns by use of cine photography and analysis of single frame projection. Displayaction-pattern (DAP) graphs were constructed for all sequences of display. These graphs were analyzed for duration~ amplitude, and number of units within a sequence for each of the four subspecies. Comparison of these graphs constituted the bulk of the evidence for arriving at the conclusions drawn. Display patterns were found to be substantially similar within each population and different between subspecies. Whereas the basic pattern of display of the three subspecies of L. carinatus showed evidence of relationship~ the display of L. schreibersi was quite different from any of the others. The latter exhibited three types of head movement display whereas L. carinatus utilized only one, most of the time. Patterns of the displays for all of the subspecies are delineated. Most iguanid lizards utilize either head bobs or push-ups, one or the other, but Leiocephalus incorporates both of these into its display pattern; this is graphically illustrated.