The Effect of Quality of Light on Agonistic Behavior of Iguanid and Agamid Lizards

It has been recognized in both the popular and scientific literature that ultraviolet light plays a part in the lives of lizards. It has generally been assumed that ultraviolet light helps prevent or cure rickets although there have been suggestions in the literature that light quality may influence behavior. In this study, behavioral changes induced by ultraviolet light included threats to conspecifics in Dipsosaurus dorsalis and Crotaphytus collaris as well as an increase in the frequency of assertion displays in Dipsosaurus and an increased frequency of head nods in Agama agama. One of the more impore tant physical factors in the environment of desert lizards is light.