Following trails of partners in the monogamous lizard, Tiliqua rugosa |
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Authors: | Michael C Bull Christian Lindle |
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Institution: | (1) School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia,;(2) Present address: Department of Zoology, University of Vienna, Althnastrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, |
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Abstract: | The sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, is an Australian scincid lizard that forms monogamous pairs for 6–8 weeks in the spring before mating occurs. Previous observations
and experiments have shown that when partners are separated they can relocate each other, and one suggested mechanism has
been trail following. In this article we report results from field-based Y-maze experiments to investigate trail following.
In the first part of the spring season, female lizards were more likely to use the arm of the maze previously taken by their
male partner than either a blank arm of the maze or the arm taken by an unfamiliar adult male. Females that were more frequently
found with their male partner during the spring season were more likely to follow the path of their male partner than less
strongly bonded females. In the second part of the spring, after mating had occurred in the natural population, females no
longer showed a preference in the maze. Males showed no significant tendency to follow their female partner in any part of
the season. The results suggest there is trail following, at least by females, and that females play an active role in maintaining
the partnership. This refutes male-based explanations, like mate guarding, for monogamy.
Electronic Publication |
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Keywords: | Lizards Tiliqua rugosa Monogamy Trail following |
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