Sex differences in antipredator tail-waving displays of the diurnal yellow-headed gecko Gonatodes albogularis from tropical forests of Colombia

• Published in: Journal of ethology 2010, Vol.28 (2), p.305-311
• Main Authors: Bohórquez Alonso, Martha L, Martínez Cotrina, Jorge, Aguilar Pardo, David, Font, Enrique, Molina-Borja, Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal Ecology; Animal ethology; Behavioral Sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Evolutionary Biology; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General forest ecology; Generalities. Production, biomass. Quality of wood and forest products. General forest ecology; Gonatodes albogularis; Life Sciences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Zoology
• ISSN: 0289-0771; 1439-5444
• DOI: 10.1007/s10164-009-0186-4

Many vertebrate species show display behaviors when predators are in their vicinity. Some of these displays may inform the predator of the improbability of capturing the prey (i.e., pursuit-deterrent displays) and are potentially advantageous to both predator and prey. Here we present data on a tail display performed by Gonatodes albogularis, a diurnal tropical gecko. We performed transect surveys in three habitats near Bogotá in Colombia. Geckos detected during transects were approached by the observer in a standardized way, and details of their tail-waving displays were recorded. In control recordings animals were watched from a distant site without approaching them. Results showed sexual differences in tail-waving display: when approached by the observer, males performed this behavior more frequently than females. We found no significant differences between males and females in flight-initiation distances and height above the substratum when they were initially located. Results also showed that males displayed more frequently when approached than when the simulated predator remained stationary. We interpret these results as evidence that the display functions as a pursuit-deterrent signal to potential predators. However, as some tail displays were performed in the presence of conspecifics, the display may also have a social function.