We have just published a new paper on sex-biased parasitism in the slender anole! We found that male slender anoles have many more ectoparasites (trombiculid mites) than female slender anoles, but this pattern seem to be driven by the larger dewlap of males. Mites preferentially attach to the dewlaps of males, perhaps because of the relatively wide spacing between the gorgetal scales of the dewlap. Our work suggests that male slender anoles might pay a fitness cost (in the form of increased parasitism) for having a sexual signal.
Check out the link to read the paper: https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/131/4/785/5983170?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Check out the link to read the paper: https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article-abstract/131/4/785/5983170?redirectedFrom=fulltext
Trombiculid mites (little white spots) on the dewlap of a male slender anole.