Sources of intraspecific variability in the protein composition of lizard femoral gland secretions
Copeia
1993
Journal Article
1993
775-781
Iguana iguana
Proteins in the femoral gland secretions of 23 adult and 31 juvenile green iguanas (Iguana iguana) were compared using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Similarity coefficients reflecting the degree of band sharing between pairs of individuals were calculated to investigate variability in femoral gland proteins at the individual, familial, and population levels. Although all iguanas examined shared many protein bands, no two individuals possessed identical banding patterns. Similarity coefficients were higher within than between populations, indicating a genetic basis for variation in femoral gland proteins. In juveniles, protein composition was more similar within than between the sexes. Furthermore, among both male and female juveniles, more protein bands were shared within than among clutches. These results suggest that, if differences in protein composition are detected by green iguanas, femoral gland secretions could communicate information useful in conspecific, sex, and kin recognition.