Male-female spacing patterns in the lizard, Sceloporus virgatus

The spatial distribution of Sceloporus virgatus in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona was studied during the breeding season. Male home ranges were, on average, more than four times larger than those of females. Home range o verlap of both sexes was extensive, with most individuals overlapping multi ple males and multiple females. Home range overlap of males with females wa s significantly correlated with an independently calculated estimate of mal e mating success. For most females (71%), one of the males overlapped a sub stantially larger portion of her home range than any other male. Similarly, for most females (76%) a single one of the overlapping males courted the f emale more often or was sighted at closer distances to the female. The rema ining females did not associate primarily with a single male.