Home range and territory in the striped plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus)

Observations of home range sizes, home range locations, and behavioural interactions were used to determine the spatial distribution of a population of striped plateau lizards (Sceloporus virgatus). A comparison of home ranges and nearest-neighbour distances indicates that females have clearly defined territories. In contrast, the home ranges of males overlap extensively. Although males have similar nearest-neighbour distances to those of females, their home range sizes are larger. Much of the overlap among males appears to be associated with the courtship of females, suggesting that males have exchanged defence of exclusive territories for an increased home range area and a larger number of potential mates. Aggressive interactions among males were considerably more conspicuous than those among females, and the clear territorial pattern of females as opposed to males was unexpected on the basis of the frequency of behavioural interactions alone.