FEMALE MATE CHOICE IN THE NONTERRITORIAL LIZARD AMEIVA-PLEI (TEIIDAE)

Mate choice by females has been documented in a variety of taxa. Femal e mate choice in species lacking male resource control or paternal car e might occur if preferred males provide protection from harassment. F emale mate choice was investigated in a natural population of the non- territorial lizard Ameiva plei (Teiidae). Consort pairs were allowed t o form naturally. Consort males were significantly larger than non-con sort males. After removal of consort males, the ''abandoned'' female's reaction to the first male who approached her was recorded. Females r ejected all small males. Female preference for large males was signifi cantly higher than preference for small males. Large males may be bett er equipped to guard the females from harassment and behavior of large males is less harassing than behavior of small males, thereby affordi ng the female increased foraging time.