Re-examining escape behaviour and habitat use as correlates of dorsal pattern variation in female brown anole lizards, Anolis sagrei (Squamata: Dactyloidae)

Abstract Female-limited polymorphism in colour and pattern has long been studied to understand how intraspecific phenotypic variation is maintained. Female Anolis sagrei lizards are polymorphic in their dorsal patterning, and this variation has been hypothesized to reduce predation through crypsis, with different patterns being associated with camouflage in different microhabitats or while adopting different modes of escape. However, previous studies testing this hypothesis remained inconclusive, potentially because this variation was classified categorically instead of being quantified continuously. Thus, we initially examined whether the dorsal pattern in female A. sagrei varies continuously and then investigated whether this variation is associated with habitat use or escape behaviour. Data from Gainesville, FL, USA suggests that dorsal pattern variation is both categorical and continuous. One-third of A. sagrei females have a distinct, male-like chevron dorsal pattern, whereas the remainder bear a striped dorsal pattern that varies continuously and does not fall into three discrete categories as reported previously. Chevroned females perched significantly higher than striped females, but other habitat use and escape behaviours did not vary with dorsal pattern. Our results thus do not support the hypothesis that dorsal pattern variation in female A. sagrei is an adaptation for predator avoidance by crypsis, and instead we speculate that the male-like chevron dorsal pattern in females is an adaptation to minimize sexual conflict.