Discrimination of male conspecific from male heterospecific odors by male scincid lizards (Eumeces laticeps)

Abstract

AbstractMale broad‐headed skinks, Eumeces laticeps, were tested for the ability to discriminate the odors of conspecific males from those of males of the broadly sympatric and closely related E. fasciatus, which is similar in appearance. Tongue‐flicks elicited in 1 min by male cloacal odors of both species presented to 28 males in counterbalanced order. Data were analyzed by one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for a repeated measures design. Male E. laticeps had significantly higher tongue‐flick rates when responding to conspecific male odors than to odors of male E. fasciatus. The adaptive advantage of interspecific discrimination of male odors may be recognition of sexual rivals or avoidance of injury incurred during interspecific fighting.