Side-splotched lizards, Uta stansburiana, are a type of lizard found in the south-western United States. Male lizards come in three sizes. Each size has a corresponding color and reproductive strategy.
The largest, orange-morph lizards maintain large harems over large territories which are difficult to guard against competitors. Since they are the largest males, they easily win challenges by smaller males. However since their territories are so large, it is hard for them to be everywhere at once.
The medium sized, blue-morph males defend smaller harems in smaller territories that are easier to guard and protect. They cannot win against a larger male, but fewer females are easier to keep track of.
Yellow-morphs are the smallest male lizards and resemble females. They do not maintain territories or harems, however their resemblance to females allows them to infiltrate the harems of larger males and mate with females while remaining unnoticed.
Which male would be considered the most evolutionarily successful?
Responses
A Blue MorphBlue Morph
B Orange MorphOrange Morph
C Yellow MorphYellow Morph
D None of the three species
B Orange MorphOrange Morph
The orange-morph lizards would be considered the most evolutionarily successful due to their ability to maintain large harems over large territories, giving them access to the most females for mating. Their size also allows them to easily win challenges against smaller males.