Social Behavior and Communication in Rock Agama Laudakia caucasia

Eugenyi N. Panov, Larissa Yu. Zykova

Abstract


Field studies were conducted in different regions of Turkmenistan during spring and autumn seasons of 11 years. The bulk of data has been obtained in individually marked populations where ontogenetic trajectories of many lizards were followed through years, so that their ages and permanent sex partners were known. The communication is regarded as a systemic entity based on parallel information transmitting and exchange with simultaneous use of optical, tactile and chemical channels. Most signaling means described are, thus, of polymodal nature. Among interactions in which such signals preponderate is so-called Greeting Ceremony addressed regularly by the female(s) toward the male within the given stable, monogamous or polygynous, family group. It is supposed that in the rock agama settlement the stable olfactory field is developed that regulates spatial relations between the deme members. High stereotype and species-specific character are shown for the male Push-Up actions. Sharp difference in Push-Ups of Laudakia caucasia end L. erytrhrogastra does not prevent formation of mixed family groups in the sympatry zone of these species.


Keywords


Agamidae; Laudakia caucasia; L. erythrogastra; species-specific communication system; polymodal signals; chemical signal field; stereotype optical signals; personal family bonds

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ananjeva N. B., Dilmuchamedov M. E., and Matveyeva T. N. (1991), «The skin sense organs of some iguanian lizards», J. Herpetol., 25(2), 186 – 199.

Berry K. (1974), «The ecology and social behavior of chuckwalla, Sauromalus obessus obessus Baird», U.C. Publ. Zool., 101, 1 – 60.

Hunsaker D. II (1962), «Ethological isolating mechanisms in Sceloporus torquatus group of lizards», Evolution, 16(1), 62 – 74.

Madison D. M. (1976), «Chemical communication in amphibians and reptiles», in: D. Müller-Schwarze and M. M. Mozel (eds.) Chemical Signals in Vertebrates, pp. 135 – 168.

Martins E. P. (1991), «Individual and sex differences in the use of push-up display in the sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus graciosus», Anim. Behav., 41, 403 – 416.

Noble G. K. and Bradley H. T. (1933), «The mating behavior of lizards; its bearing on the theory of sexual selection», Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci., 35, 25 – 100.

Panov E. N. (1978), Mechanisms of Communication in Birds, Moscow [in Russian].

Panov E. N. and Zykova L. Yu. (1985), «Comparative biology of the steppe and rock agamas (Agama sanguinolenta, A. caucasica) in the Sumbar River basin», in: Nechaeva N. T. (ed.), Vegetation and Animal World of the Western Kopet Dag, Ashkhabad, pp. 185 – 204 [in Russian].

Panov E. N. and Zykova L. Yu. (1986), «Notes on behavior of steppe agama Agama sanguinolenta. 2. Everyday and communication behavior», Zool. Zh., 65(2), 235 – 246 [in Russian].

Panov E. N. and Zykova L. Yu. (1995a), «Social organization and demography of the rock agama, Stellio caucasius», Asiatic Herpetol. Res., 6, 97 – 110.

Panov E. N. and Zykova L. Yu. (1995b), «Variability and differentiation of populations in Laudakia caucasia complex (Reptilia, Agamidae)», Usp. Sovr. Biol., 115(3), 293 – 315 [in Russian].

Panov E. N. and Zykova L. Yu. (1996), Resource partitioning and break-down of ethological isolation in mixed population of Laudakia caucasia and L. erythrogastra», Usp. Sovr. Biol., 116(1), 104 – 120 [in Russian].

Panov E. N. and Zykova L. Yu. (1997), «Differentiation and interrelations of two representatives of Laudakia stellio complex (Reptilia: Agamidae) in Israel», Russ. J. Herpetol., 4(2), 102 – 114.

Rogovin K. A. (1991), «Social bevaior of Phrynocephalus helioscopus and Ph. reticulatus (Reptilia: Agamidae) and their relationships in joint settlement», Zool. Zh., 70(3), 61 – 72 [in Russian].

Simon C. A., Gravelle K., Bissinger B. E., Eiss I., and Ruibal R. (1981), «The role of chemoreception in the iguanid lizard Sceloporus jarrovi», Anim. Behav., 29, 46 – 54.

Sokolov V. E., Kotova E. I., and Chernova O. F. (1994), Cutaneous Glands in Reptiles (Reptilia), Moscow [in Russian].

Torr G. A. and Shine R. (1994), «An ethogram for the small scincid lizard Lampropholis guichenoti », Amphibia–Reptilia, 15(1), 21 – 34.

Tsellarius A. Yu. and Men’shikov Yu. G. (1994), «Indirect communication and its role in the formation of social structure in Varanus griseus (Sauria)», Russ. J. Herpetol., 1(2), 121 – 132.

Zykova L. Yu. and Panov E. N. (1986), «Notes on behavior of steppe agama Agama sanguinolenta. 1. General features of biology, spatial structure, and social behaviour», Zool. Zh., 65(1), 99 – 109 [in Russian].




DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-1999-6-3-215-230

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.



You can subscribe to the print or electronic version of the journal on the site of EastView Company. If you have any questions, please write to the email sales@ivis.ru