Male Texas Horned Lizards Increase Daily Movements and Area Covered in Spring: A Mate Searching Strategy?

Richard C. Stark; Stanley F. Fox; David M. Leslie

doi:10.1670/0022-1511(2005)039[0168:MTHLID]2.0.CO;2

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1 March 2005 Male Texas Horned Lizards Increase Daily Movements and Area Covered in Spring: A Mate Searching Strategy?

Richard C. Stark, Stanley F. Fox, David M. Leslie

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J. of Herpetology, 39(1):169-173 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1670/0022-1511(2005)039[0168:MTHLID]2.0.CO;2

Abstract

Texas Horned Lizards, Phrynosoma cornutum, were tracked using fluorescent powder to determine exact daily movements. Daily linear movements and daily space use were compared between adult males and females. Lizards that traveled the greatest linear distances also covered the largest areas. In Oklahoma, adults emerge from hibernation in late April and early May and mate soon afterward. Males traveled significantly greater distances (and covered significantly larger areas in a day) than females in May but not after May. We propose that males move more and cover more area than females early in the mating season to intercept receptive females.

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Richard C. Stark, Stanley F. Fox, and David M. Leslie "Male Texas Horned Lizards Increase Daily Movements and Area Covered in Spring: A Mate Searching Strategy?," Journal of Herpetology 39(1), 169-173, (1 March 2005). https://doi.org/10.1670/0022-1511(2005)039[0168:MTHLID]2.0.CO;2

Accepted: 1 November 2004; Published: 1 March 2005

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