A case for anole territoriality

Abstract

Kamath and Losos (Behav Ecol Sociobiol 71:89, 2017) address a contradiction in studies of anole lizards: the mismatch between behavioral studies classifying anoles as polygynous and modern genetic data indicating that females frequently have multiple mates. These authors argue that this mismatch comes from a historic trend in anole biology to cite poorly supported evidence of anole social behaviors (particularly territoriality) and to underemphasize observations deviating from polygyny. While we agree there is more variation in anole spatial patterns and mating behaviors than is commonly acknowledged in the literature, we feel that the authors’ main conclusion that the study of anole territoriality has been largely based on untested assumptions is overstated. Although early studies are often limited by the different scientific norms of their times, the study of anole spatial behavior has been based on a consistent and well-supported view of territoriality.