Displays and Social Organization in Female Anolis aeneus

A field study of the behavior of Anolis aeneus females was carried out in the Lesser Antilles. Female social systems range from territories in some habitats to dominance hierarchies in others. One display (Multibob) is given by females in hierarchies, another (Jerkbob) by those possessing territories. Subordinate females attempting to set up territories may give both displays. Differences in measures reflecting population density between habitats do not obviously account for the difference in social systems. Distance to nearest neighbor is correlated with the frequency with which displays (either Jerkbob or Multibob) are given, but not with the type of display given, nor with the type of social system seen.