Body Colors Indicate the Reproductive Status of Female Common Chameleons: Experimental Evidence for the Intersex Communication Function

Abstract

Female common chameleons, Chamaeleo chamaeleon, show temporary body color changes during the reproductive season, probably in synchrony with their reproductive status. In a field study, the color changes of 21 radio‐tagged females were monitored for the apparent effects that three selected colorations (green body with yellow lines, green body with yellow spots and black body with yellow spots, abbreviated to GYL, GYS and BYS, respectively) had on the reproductive behavior of both sexes. In a field experiment, females naturally displaying GYL were artificially painted to resemble GYL (or control), GYS and BYS. They were released in the wild and the response of males was recorded. The frequency of male‐female behaviors, the pairing time and the outcome of male copulation attempts were consistent with the respective neutral (GYL), receptive (GYS) and gravid (BYS) functions of female color phases since a high percentage of copulations occurred during the short‐term GYS phase, whereas all copulation attempts by males were violently rejected during the BYS phase. In addition, BYS females also displayed specific behavioral postures to prevent matings. In the field experiment, the number of approaching males and the strength of the response by males were significantly higher for painted GYS females. The data show strong evidence that temporary body color changes in female common chameleons are associated with changes in their reproductive status and hence, function as signals used in inter‐sex communication.