干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

We investigated the abilities of males and females of Eublepharis macularius to discriminate between their own pheromones and those of same-sex conspecifics and of males to distinguish between female cagemates and unfamiliar females. Tongue-flicks and other behaviors in response to pheromonal stimuli were recorded for 5 min. Tongue-flicks by all males to their own stimuli and to those of another male did not differ significantly, but some males performed aggressive stilting displays to stimuli from other males, reducing the time available for tongue-flicking. When males that stilted were excluded, the tongue-flicking rate was significantly-higher in response to chemical stimuli of unfamiliar males than to their own. In an alternative analysis, a tongue-flick stilt score (TFSS), a composite measure weighting aggressive responses more heavily than tongue-flicking, also was significantly greater-in response to stimuli of other males than to the males own stimuli. Three behaviors revealed differential response by males to chemical stimuli from female cagemates and unfamiliar females. Chemical stimuli from unfamiliar females elicited significantly greater tongue-flick rate, a higher probability of performing tail vibration, which is a species-typical courtship behavior and a higher probability of remaining with the pheromone source throughout a trial. Tongue-flick rates by females did not differ significantly in response to their own pheromones and those of other females. Neither were there other behavioral indications of discrimination.