Nuptial coloration in female Liolaemus quilmes (Iguania: Liolaemidae) as a possible sign of phenotypic quality

Abstract

Females of Liolaemus quilmes, a lizard from northwestern Argentina, develop a nuptial coloration on the sides of the neck during the reproductive season. It varies from a light yellow to an intense orange, corresponding to different stages in their reproductive development. The objective of this study was to determine if nuptial coloration could predict phenotypic quality, related to reproductive fitness, as reported in other species, acting as a dependable sign for the males. Forty-three females were collected during two reproductive and post-reproductive seasons. For color, the three parameters of hue, chroma, and value, were taken into account, calculating a color range index. As an indicator of phenotypic quality, body condition was used, a measure generally used in the literature, based on the residuals of a regression between weight and SVL3 (snout-vent length to the cube). A lineal regression analisis was performed relating body condition to the color range index and to chroma. No relationship was found between the variables under study, which would indicate that nuptial coloration is not associated to the body condition of the female, which might in turn, suggest that males might not be able to use this information to estimate the phenotypic quality of the female and her potential for reproductive success.