Species recognition of color and motion signals in Anolis grahami: evidence from responses to lizard robots

Lay summary Anolis lizards use color and motion displays to communicate and to distinguish their own species from others in the same area. We used lizard robots, whose signal characteristics could be varied independently, to test for species recognition in Anolis grahami males. Subjects showed significant decrements in responses to alterations of displays beyond the normal range of variation in a manner that suggests color and motion independently convey information about species identity in these lizards. Lay summary Anolis lizards use color and motion displays to communicate and to distinguish their own species from others in the same area. We used lizard robots, whose signal characteristics could be varied independently, to test for species recognition in Anolis grahami males. Subjects showed significant decrements in responses to alterations of displays beyond the normal range of variation in a manner that suggests color and motion independently convey information about species identity in these lizards.