Colour-changing signals are independent of social interactions, but may signal body condition in an <i>Anolis</i> lizard

Abstract Animal coloration has a variety of functions, from camouflage to courtship, reproductive status, or social rank. Rapid body colour change offers an immediate and accurate way for animals to alter information at a fine time scale, potentially balancing natural and sexual selection. However, the functions of female coloration and rapid colour change remain underexplored. We investigated the role of colour and rapid colour change as a social signal in female Anolis aquaticus. Using digital photography and an anole visual model, we quantified differences in lateral stripe coloration. Females rapidly changed colour in response to both isolated and conspecific environments, but colour change did not differ between the two environments. However, females with better body condition had bluer and less green body stripes than those in lower condition. Our findings indicate that the relationship of body stripe coloration and body condition is independent of rapid body colour changes, which appear to be elicited from a novel environment and not from conspecific exposure. These results expand our understanding of the roles of lateral stripe coloration and rapid colour change in females and highlight the complex interactions among colour change, camouflage, and social signalling in species with rapid body colour change.