Sex‐related differences in morphology and behavior are well documented, but the relative contributions of genes and environment to these traits are less well understood. Species that undergo sex reversal, such as the central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), offer an opportunity to better understand sexually dimorphic traits because sexual phenotypes can exist on different chromosomal backgrounds. Reproductively female dragons with a discordant sex chromosome complement (sex reversed), at least as juveniles, exhibit traits in common with males (e.g., longer tails and greater boldness). However, the impact of sex reversal on sexually dimorphic traits in adult dragons is unknown. Here, we investigate the effect of sex reversal on bite‐force performance, which may be important in resource acquisition (e.g., mates and/or food). We measured body size, head size, and bite force of the three sexual phenotypes in a colony of captive animals. Among adults, we found that males (ZZm) bite more forcefully than either chromosomally concordant females (ZWf) or sex‐reversed females (ZZf), and this difference is associated with having relatively larger head dimensions. Therefore, adult sex‐reversed females, despite apparently exhibiting male traits as juveniles, do not develop the larger head and enhanced bite force of adult male bearded dragons. This pattern is further illustrated in the full sample by a lack of positive allometry of bite force in sex‐reversed females that is observed in males. The results reveal a close association between reproductive phenotype and bite force performance, regardless of sex chromosome complement.

中文翻译：

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生殖表型可预测成年性逆转龙（Pogona vitticeps）的成年咬咬力表现。

与性别有关的形态和行为差异已得到充分证明，但对基因和环境对这些性状的相对贡献知之甚少。发生性逆转的物种，例如中央胡须龙（Pogona vitticeps），这为更好地了解性二态性状提供了机会，因为性表型可以存在于不同的染色体背景中。生殖雌性龙的染色体互补性不协调（性别反转），至少与幼年时一样，表现出与雄性相同的特征（例如，较长的尾巴和更大的胆量）。然而，性别逆转对成年龙性二形性状的影响尚不清楚。在这里，我们研究了性逆转对咬合力表现的影响，这在获取资源（例如伴侣和/或食物）中可能很重要。我们测量了圈养动物群体中三种性表型的体型，头部大小和咬力。在成年人中，我们发现，男性（ZZm）的咬合力比染色体一致的女性（ZWf）或性反转的女性（ZZf）强，这种差异与头部尺寸相对较大有关。因此，成年性逆转的雌性尽管具有幼体的男性特征，但并没有发展成年雄性胡须龙的较大头部和增强的咬合力。在整个样本中，通过在男性中观察到的性别反转女性缺乏咬合力的正向异形，进一步说明了这种模式。结果揭示了生殖表型和咬合力表现之间的紧密联系，而与性染色体的互补无关。在整个样本中，通过在男性中观察到的性别反转女性缺乏咬合力的正向异形，进一步说明了这种模式。结果揭示了生殖表型和咬合力表现之间的紧密联系，而与性染色体的互补无关。在整个样本中，通过在男性中观察到的性别反转女性缺乏咬合力的正向异形，进一步说明了这种模式。结果揭示了生殖表型和咬合力表现之间的紧密联系，而与性染色体的互补无关。