Milwaukee Public Museum: Tropical Rainforest
THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
Spacing
Living things need space so much that they’re willing to fight, or at least threaten to fight for it. They need space to ensure an adequate food supply and mates. Many animals defend their territories by using behavior such as prancing, posturing, scent marking, and singing and using other types of calls.
Lizards on Patrol
Look at the two anole lizards on the branch below. Can you tell what the lizard on the right is doing to defend its territory? If you noticed the anole's out-stretched dewlap (or loose fold of skin), its raised crest, and its wide open mouth, you are very observant. And if you were an intruding lizard, the territorial warning conveyed by the outstretched dewlap might inhibit you from coming any closer.
The lizard defends its territory to insure that it has an adequate food supply and mates. A male may allow females and young or subordinate males to enter his territory, but vigorously defends its territory against intruding competitive males.
Milwaukee Public Museum: Tropical Rainforest
THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL
Spacing
Living things need space so much that they’re willing to fight, or at least threaten to fight for it. They need space to ensure an adequate food supply and mates. Many animals defend their territories by using behavior such as prancing, posturing, scent marking, and singing and using other types of calls.
Lizards on Patrol
Look at the two anole lizards on the branch below. Can you tell what the lizard on the right is doing to defend its territory? If you noticed the anole's out-stretched dewlap (or loose fold of skin), its raised crest, and its wide open mouth, you are very observant. And if you were an intruding lizard, the territorial warning conveyed by the outstretched dewlap might inhibit you from coming any closer.
The lizard defends its territory to insure that it has an adequate food supply and mates. A male may allow females and young or subordinate males to enter his territory, but vigorously defends its territory against intruding competitive males.