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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
Colour Variation in the Crocodile Lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) and Its Relationship to Individual Quality
Biology, Volume 11, No. 9, Article 1314, Year 2022
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Description
Colour plays a key role in animal social communication including as an indicator of individual quality. Using spectrophotometry, we examined colour variation in the throat and venter of the crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus), an endangered species native to southern China and northern Vietnam. We detected two broad colour variants, individuals with and without red, for each body region and each sex. A cluster analysis of spectral colour measurements (hue, chroma, luminance) revealed discrete throat and ventral morphs when measured in a single snapshot in time. However, photographic evidence revealed that the amount of red relative to body size increased as they got older. Individuals with red were equally likely to be male or female and throat colour was unrelated to ventral colour. Therefore, it is premature to claim that crocodile lizards have discrete colour morphs. We used visual modelling to show that the throat and venter were easily discriminable to a lizard visual system, suggesting they function in social communication. We also asked whether colour variation signalled individual quality. Females with red throats had greater bite force while males with red throats were older. In addition, females with red venters had larger heads. We also detected differences in morphology linked to colour. Females with red throats had slender bodies and longer tails, while individuals lacking red on their throats were stouter and had shorter tails. Finally, throat and ventral colour were unrelated to reproductive output (litter size and mass) in females. Males with greater ventral luminance contrast sired offspring from litters with greater litter mass (including stillborns), while males with greater ventral chromatic contrast sired offspring whose collective live mass (excluding stillborns) was greater. Males with greater luminance contrast also sired more live offspring (excluding stillborns). Collectively, these results suggest that male ventral colour signals individual quality in males. Conservation initiatives should take colour variation into account when planning future captive breeding and release programs for this endangered species. © 2022 by the authors.
Authors & Co-Authors
Whiting, Martin J.
Australia, Sydney
Macquarie University
Du, Weiguo
China, Beijing
Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yue, Bisong
China, Chengdu
Sichuan University
Statistics
Citations: 2
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.3390/biology11091314
ISSN:
20797737
Research Areas
Maternal And Child Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Participants Gender
Male
Female