LAILVAUX, Simon P; IRSCHICK, Duncan J; Tulane University; Tulane University: Rumble in the Jungle: bite force, dewlap size, and male fighting ability in two species of Caribbean Anolis lizards

In territorial animals, whole-organism performance abilities influence the outcome of male fights, but the importance of such abilities to non-territorial species is less clear. We conducted male combat trials in two species of Jamaican Anolis lizards to investigate the relevance of a whole-organism performance ability, bite force, to male combat in species with different levels of territoriality. Previous work has demonstrated that bite force and dewlap size are coupled in the territorial Anolis lineatopus, but not in the non-territorial Anolis valencienni. Here we show that dominant A. lineatopus males have relatively higher bite forces than subordinates, as expected, but not relatively larger dewlaps. Dominant A. valencienni, on the other hand, have relatively larger dewlaps than subordinates, but not larger bite forces. Thus, while our findings for bite force are likely attributable to differences in degree of territoriality, other factors such as crypticity may have a larger effect on dewlap size. Our results suggest that performance capacities may play an important role in the evolution of mating strategies in polygynous species.