Male Anolis lizards prefer virgin females

Males can gain fitness benefits by preferentially courting and mating with virgin females if they represent a lower risk of sperm competition. When females mate multiply, but do not remate frequently, males can experience a lower level of sperm competition when mating with virgins. Male preference for virgins has been demonstrated many times in invertebrates but rarely in vertebrates. In this study, I tested if Anolis apletophallus males preferentially courted virgin females more than non-virgin females, in two-choice trails where the virgin was smaller than the non-virgin, and trails where the females were size-matched. In both trails males preferentially courted the virgin females more than non-virgin females. This suggests males can discriminate between females based on their reproductive history and that they do not use body size as a cue. Males most likely used visual signals from the female, although these signals could not be identified in this study. This is only the second study to show male preference for virgins in vertebrates. Although it is possible that male preference for virgins is relatively rare in vertebrates, I argue that certain life history traits, namely, where large females do not have reproductive benefits, and or when sperm is stored between subsequent reproductive events this preference function can evolve. Future studies focusing on such systems are likely to be fruitful with respect to this male mating preference and may help us to better understand the evolution of male mating preferences and female traits.