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Journal articles on the topic 'Lizards'
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1
Akani, Godfrey, Nwabueze Ebere, Valentin Pérez-Mellado, and Luca Luiselli. "Stomach flushing affects survival/emigration in wild lizards: a study case with rainbow lizards (Agama agama) in Nigeria." Amphibia-Reptilia 32, no. 2 (2011): 253–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/017353711x565493.
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AbstractStomach flushing is one of the proposed techniques to study lizard diets. Apparently, it is ranged, together with direct observation and faecal analysis, as a non-harmful method for dietary studies. Some works explored the usefullness of stomach flushing, but we lack information about its effect on lizard's survival probabilities. In this paper we studied the effect of stomach flushing in an urban population of the rainbow lizard (Agama agama) from Calabar (Nigeria). During a period of five months of 2010, 147 lizards were noosed, sexed and individually marked. One group of lizards was stomach flushed only once, whereas the rest of lizards were not flushed. The flushed sample of lizards showed a lower survival than non-flushed lizards of all sex and age classes. In this study, the pictured diet from stomach flushing was very similar to results obtained with a faecal analysis of the same lizard population. Thus, both methods seem to be reliable to study the diet of the rainbow lizard. However, our results indicate that stomach flushing increases the probability of mortality (or at least emigration rates) in all age and sex classes, precluding its extensive use as a method to study lizard's diets.
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Wieczorek, Magdalena, Robert Rektor, Bartłomiej Najbar, and Federico Morelli. "Tick parasitism is associated with home range area in the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis." Amphibia-Reptilia 41, no. 4 (May 26, 2020): 479–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-bja10018.
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Abstract The sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) is a common species in Europe that inhabits a wide range of habitats, including anthropogenic environments. It is a frequent carrier of common ticks (Ixodes ricinus), which poses a severe threat to the lizards’ health. We determined the living space used by lizards in a rapidly changing environment and ascertained the number of parasitic ticks found throughout the reptile’s active season. We conducted telemetry research on a dynamically developing housing estate located on the outskirts of the city of Zielona Góra (western Poland) in 2016-2017. We obtained data from 16 adult lizards, from which we collected 2529 ticks. Using generalized linear models (GLMs), we determined the relationships among the number of transmitted parasites, size of occupied areas (minimum convex polygon, MCP), the weight of lizards, and sex of lizards. Results indicated that the number of ticks was negatively correlated with lizard body mass, but positively correlated with home range. Sex was not significantly associated with the number of ticks. Additionally, the parasite load was lower during the lizard’s non-breeding season than during the breeding season and was lower for males than for females during the non-breeding season. Males have larger home ranges than females.
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Blamires, S. J. "Factors influencing the escape response of an arboreal agamid lizard of tropical Australia (Lophognathus temporalis) in an urban environment." Canadian Journal of Zoology 77, no. 12 (December 1, 1999): 1998–2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z99-166.
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The escape response of the agamid lizard Lophognathus temporalis in an urban population was examined during the dry season. Two measurements of escape response were made: the distance an observer can approach before the lizard flees (approach distance) and the distance the lizard flees to refuge (flight distance). The relationship between approach distance and flight distance was examined, as was the relationship between air temperature and both approach distance and flight distance. The influence of time of day, the lizard's perch (in a tree or on the ground), and year (1996 or 1998) on the escape response was determined. Approach distance and flight distance had no relationship with each other. Air temperature had a positive relationship with approach distance, so variations in temperature between the two years might explain variations in approach distance between them. The lizard's perch had the greatest influence on flight distance. Lizards in trees fled shorter distances, usually to the opposite side of the tree trunk or branch to the observer. Lizards on the ground always fled to the nearest refuge.
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Blokhin, Ivan, Natalya Veselova, and Gennady Blokhin. "Phenotypic traits of sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) and the environmental factor effects." BIO Web of Conferences 43 (2022): 03003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20224303003.
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The comparative analysis of the variability of the sand lizard’s (Lacerta agilis) phenotypic traits was carried out. Lizards were trapping in four different localities. 12 morphometric characters and 22 scaling parameters were included in controlled traits; comparisons of populations were performed using Student’s t-test and discriminant analysis. Lizards were captured in the village Yamnoye, Voronezh Region, the village Verkhnekardail’skiy in the Volgograd Region, and in the villages Sredniy and Poperechnyy of the Stavropol Territory. The village Yamnoye is experiencing the greatest anthropogenic pressure due to its proximity to Voronezh city and the airport. The largest number of statistically significant differences in morphometric characters was found between lizards of the Stavropol Territory and lizards from the villages Verkhnekardail’skiy and Yamnoye, between which there were significantly low number statistically significant differences in the same characters. Sexual dimorphism was most pronounced in lizards of the locality with the highest anthropogenic load - the village Yamnoye. When analyzing the characteristics of scaly cover of lizards of closes localities in villages Yamnoye and Verkhnekardail’skiy, there were more statistically significant differences than between the lizards of the last and the most remote Stavropol Territory. When assessing the severity of sexual dimorphism in terms of scaling, statistically significant differences between males and females were observed in population lizards of the Stavropol Territory and the village Verkhnekardail’skiy. The sexual dimorphism on scaly cover in lizard population of the village Yamnoye was not revealed and a relatively reduced diversity of the scaly cover was observed. Our data indicate that the variability of various phenotypic characteristics of the sand lizard is related in different ways to the influence of environmental factors, such as the geocological position of the localities of animal reproduction, anthropogenic load.
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Schall, J. J. "Virulence of lizard malaria: the evolutionary ecology of an ancient parasite—host association." Parasitology 100, S1 (June 1990): S35—S52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182000073005.
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SummaryThe negative consequences of parasitic infection (virulence) were examined for two lizard malaria parasite—host associa tions: Plasmodium agamae and P. giganteum, parasites of the rainbow lizard, Agama agania, in Sierra Leone, West Africa; and P. mexicanum in the western fence lizard, Sceloporus occidentalis, in northern California. These malaria species vary greatly in their reproductive characteristics: P. agamae produces only 8 merozoites per schizont, P. giganteum yields over 100, and P. mexicanum an intermediate number. All three parasites appear to have had an ancient association with their host. In fence lizards, infection with malaria is associated with increased numbers of immature erythrocytes, decreased haemoglobin levels, decreased maximal oxygen consumption, and decreased running stamina. Not affected were numbers of erythrocytes, resting metabolic rate, and sprint running speed which is supported by anaerobic means in lizards. Infected male fence lizards had smaller testes, stored less fat in preparation for winter dormancy, were more often socially submissive and, unexpectedly, were more extravagantly coloured on the ventral surface (a sexually dimorphic trait) than non-infected males. Females also stored less fat and produced smaller clutches of eggs, a directly observed reduction in fitness. Infected fence lizards do not develop behavioural fevers. P. mexicanum appears to have broad thermal buffering abilities and thermal tolerance; the parasite's population growth was unaffected by experimental alterations in the lizard's body temperature. The data are less complete for A. agama, but infected lizards suffered similar haematological and physiological effects. Infected animals may be socially submissive because they appear to gather less insect prey, possibly a result of being forced into inferior territories. Infection does not reduce clutch size in rainbow lizards, but may lengthen the time between clutches. These results are compared with predictions emerging from several models of the evolution of parasite virulence. The lack of behavioural fevers in fence lizards may represent a physiological constraint by the lizards in evolving a thermal tolerance large enough to allow elimination of the parasite via fever. Such constraints may be important in determining the outcome of parasite—host coevolution. Some theory predicts low virulence in old parasite—host systems and higher virulence in parasites with greater reproductive output. However, in conflict with this argument, all three malarial species exhibited similar high costs to their hosts.
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Ebrahimi, Mehregan, Aaron L. Fenner, and C. Michael Bull. "Lizard behaviour suggests a new design for artificial burrows." Wildlife Research 39, no. 4 (2012): 295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr11155.
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Context The use of artificial refuges is a common strategy for the conservation management of endangered species. However, artificial refuges may alter an animal’s natural behaviour that in turn may be detrimental to the species. The endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard from Australia is one species that will accept artificial burrows. Aims The aim of the present research was to determine whether the normal behaviour of the pygmy bluetongue lizards differed between artificial and natural burrows, so as to determine whether the existing artificial burrow is an optimal design for this species. Methods In the present study, we filmed the behaviour of lizards as they entered artificial and natural burrows. We compared the number of times a lizard entered a burrow, the time that lizards spent inspecting burrows, and the behaviours that lizards used when entering artificial and natural burrows. Key results We found that in natural burrows, lizards always entered head first, and then usually reversed direction inside, using an enlarged basal chamber, to sit with their head uppermost in the entrance. In artificial burrows, however, lizards had to enter head first, then reverse tail-first back out, and then reverse tail-first back into the burrow (so as to have their head facing upwards) We called this behaviour reversing from outside. Key conclusion The stereotyped reversing-from-outside behaviour when entering artificial burrows, and its occasional occurrence in natural burrows, suggest that it has evolved to allow lizards to use narrow burrows as well as those with a chamber, even though it can increase lizard’s surface activity and exposure to predation. Implication The reversing behaviour from outside the artificial burrow increases exposure to potential predators, and our observations suggest that a re-design of artificial burrows to incorporate internal space for turning around may improve their effectiveness in conservation management interventions.
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Wagner, E. A., and P. A. Zani. "Escape behavior of Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana) in response to model predators." Canadian Journal of Zoology 95, no. 12 (December 2017): 965–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2016-0255.
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Few field studies have tested for geographic variation in escape behavior and even fewer have examined responses of prey to multiple predators despite most prey occurring in multipredator environments. We performed 458 escape trials on Side-blotched Lizards (Uta stansburiana Baird and Girard, 1852) from 10 populations that differed in predator abundances. We quantified escape behavior of Side-blotched Lizards when approached with one of two model predators: a lizard (Great Basin Collared Lizard (Crotaphytus bicinctores N.M. Smith and Tanner, 1972)) or a snake (Western Yellow-bellied Racer (Coluber mormon Baird and Girard, 1852)). Our results suggest that the escape responses of Side-blotched Lizards (flight initiation distance, distance fled, refuge entry) do not differ when approached by either a model predatory lizard or a model predatory snake. Nor do the escape responses of individual Side-blotched Lizards differ in relation to the abundances of predatory lizards or snakes in the local environment. Rather, only the directness of fleeing toward a refuge differed based on model predator type with Side-blotched Lizards fleeing more directly toward a refuge in response to a model lizard. These findings suggest that Side-blotched Lizards tend to use a more generalized escape response to approaching predators.
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De Jesus, Carrie, Chanakya Bhosale, Kristen Wilson, Zoe White, and Samantha M. Wisely. "Reptile Host Associations of Ixodes scapularis in Florida and Implications for Borrelia spp. Ecology." Pathogens 10, no. 8 (August 7, 2021): 999. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10080999.
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Host associations of the tick vector for Lyme Borreliosis, Ixodes scapularis, differ across its geographic range. In Florida, the primary competent mammalian host of Lyme disease is not present but instead has other small mammals and herpetofauna that I. scapularis can utilize. We investigated host–tick association for lizards, the abundance of ticks on lizards and the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (sl). To determine which lizard species I. scapularis associates with, we examined 11 native lizard species from historical herpetological specimens. We found that (294/5828) of the specimens had attached ticks. The most infested species were Plestiodon skinks (241/1228) and Ophisaurus glass lizards (25/572). These species were then targeted at six field sites across Florida and sampled from June to September 2020, using drift fence arrays, cover boards and fishing. We captured 125 lizards and collected 233 immature I. scapularis. DNA was extracted from ticks and lizard tissue samples, followed by PCR testing for Borrelia spp. Of the captured lizards, 69/125 were infested with immature I. scapularis. We did not detect Borrelia spp. from tick or lizard tissue samples. Overall, we found that lizards are commonly infested with I. scapularis. However, we did not detect Borrelia burgdorferi sl. These findings add to a growing body of evidence that lizards are poor reservoir species.
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Haniaturizqia, Amalia Hasni, and Miftahul Anwar. "Study of Trabekular Anatomic Structures on Biawak Water Bone (Varanus Salvator)." Proceeding International Conference on Science and Engineering 3 (April 30, 2020): 55–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.14421/icse.v3.468.
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Asian water lizards (Varanus salvator) is one of the species that is widespread in the region of South Asia and Southeast Asia, one of which is in the territory of Indonesia. One of the characteristics of water lizards is having a tail that serves to maintain the balance of his body when moving. This study aims to determine the anatomical structure of the trabeculae in the tailbone of the Asian water lizard (Varanus salvator). Trabeculae are derived from the aquatic biawaks tailbone, which is neutralized with chloroform and then dissected. The coccyx is taken and prepared for observation of trabecular anatomy by sanding part of the coccyx. Then observed the structural parts of the trabeculae using a microscope. Bone trabeculae can be seen as small, porous and porous tissue elements, which consist of trabekulated tissue. Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that the trabeculae of the monitor lizard's tail bone consist of thin lattice elements and form spongy bones. The trabecular structure is thicker and denser to withstand external loading that is optimally regulated to withstand loads in functional activities such as jumping, running and for body balance. So that the dense trabecular structure of the monitor lizard's tailbone can function optimally for the balance of the body of Asian water lizards in moving and doing activities.
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Cooper, William E., and Wade C. Sherbrooke. "Choosing between a rock and a hard place: Camouflage in the round-tailed horned lizard Phrynosoma modestum." Current Zoology 58, no. 4 (August 1, 2012): 541–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/czoolo/58.4.543.
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Abstract The round-tailed horned lizard Phrynosoma modestum is cryptically colored and resembles a small stone when it draws legs close to its body and elevates its back. We investigated effectiveness of camouflage in P. modestum and its dependence on stones by placing a lizard in one of two microhabitats (uniform sand or sand with surface rocks approximately the same size as lizards). An observer who knew which microhabitat contained the lizard was asked to locate the lizard visually. Latency to detection was longer and probability of no detection within 60 s was higher for lizards on rock background than on bare sand. In arenas where lizards could choose to occupy rock or bare sand, much higher proportions selected rocky backgrounds throughout the day; at night all lizards slept among stones. A unique posture gives P. modestum a rounded appearance similar to many natural stones. Lizards occasionally adopted the posture, but none did so in response to a nearby experimenter. Stimuli that elicit the posture are unknown. That P. modestum is better camouflaged among rocks than on bare sand and prefers to occupy rocky areas suggests that special resemblance to rocks (masquerade) enhances camouflage attributable to coloration and immobility.
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Meiri, Shai. "What geckos are – an ecological-biogeographic perspective." Israel Journal of Ecology and Evolution 66, no. 3-4 (November 6, 2019): 253–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/22244662-20191075.
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Geckos are a hyper-diverse, ancient, and globally distributed group. They have diverged early from other squamates and thus can be expected to differ from them along multiple ecological, life history, and biogeographic axes. I review a wide range of gecko traits, comparing them to those of other lizard taxa, to identify the unique, and unifying, attributes of geckos among lizards, based on comprehensive databases of lizard distributions and biological attributes. Few traits completely separate geckos from other lizard taxa, yet they differ to a large degree along many axes: they are more restricted to low latitudes and altitudes, are especially diverse on islands, but relatively scarce in America. They are small lizards, that lay small, fixed clutch sizes, for which they compensate only partially by laying frequently. Because they mature at relatively similar ages and have similar lifespans to other lizards, geckos produce fewer offspring over a year, and over their lifetimes, perhaps implying that they enjoy higher survival rates. While being the only large lizard clade of predominantly nocturnal lizards a large proportion of species is active by day. Gecko body temperatures and preferred temperatures are lower than those of other lizards –even when they are compared to lizards with similar activity times. Worryingly, most geckos have small ranges that often reside completely outside of protected areas – much more frequently than in other reptile and vertebrate taxa.
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Kacoliris, Federico, Alejandro Molinari, and Jorge Williams. "Selection of key features of vegetation and escape behavior in the Sand Dune Lizard (Liolaemus multimaculatus)." Animal Biology 60, no. 2 (2010): 157–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157075610x491707.
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AbstractVegetation structure and cover are two of the main factors which determine microhabitat preferences in lizards. The Sand Dune Lizard (Liolaemus multimaculatus) is a vulnerable and endemic species of the pampean coastal habitats from Argentina. We hypothesized that: a) Sand Dune Lizard prefer to perch in microhabitats that offer a good balance between visibility and refuge, and; b) lizards prefer microhabitats in which plant types allow them to resort to sand burying behavior. We recorded data of microhabitat (bunch-grasses sizes and plant types) used by lizards (males, females and juveniles) in a population at the Mar Chiquita Provincial Nature Reserve. We applied the use-availability design to assess preferences. We evaluated differences between sex and relation between sizes of lizards. Lizards preferred bunch-grasses of intermediate size. Habitats conformed only by herbaceous species were the most preferred by lizards. We did not find differences between males and females, neither relations between size of lizards and the tested variables. Adult lizards of both sexes use bunch-grasses more frequently than juvenile individuals. The preferences for herbaceous species could be related to the sand-bury behavior that lizards use to escape from predators. More studies are necessary in order to assess the processes related with habitat preferences
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Daniell, Tara L., Mark N. Hutchinson, Phil Ainsley, and Michael G. Gardner. "Recognition of reptile predator scent is innate in an endangered lizard species." Australian Journal of Zoology 68, no. 2 (2020): 76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo20064.
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Chemical cues can alert prey to the presence of predators before the predator is within visual proximity. Recognition of a predator’s scent is therefore an important component of predator awareness. We presented predator and control scents to wild, wild-born captive, and predator-naive captive-born pygmy bluetongue lizards to determine (1) whether lizards respond to reptile chemical cues differently from controls, (2) whether captive lizards respond more strongly to a known predator than to other predatory reptiles, (3) whether captive-born lizards recognise predators innately, whether captive-born lizards have reduced predator recognition compared with wild lizards and whether time spent in captivity reduces responses to predators, and (4) whether the avoidance response to predator detection differs between naive and experienced lizards. There was no significant difference in the number of tongue flicks to predator scent among wild, wild-born and captive-born lizards, suggesting that predator detection is innate in the pygmy bluetongue lizard and time in captivity did not reduce predator recognition. The number of tongue flicks directed towards brown snake scent was significantly higher than that to the novel and water controls for all lizard origins. Lizards of all origins continued to bask in the presence of predator scents, suggesting that chemical cues alone may be insufficient to instigate an avoidance response and other cues may be required.
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Pearson, S. K., S. S. Godfrey, C. M. Bull, and M. G. Gardner. "Larger lizards live longer in the group-living Egernia stokesii." Australian Journal of Zoology 64, no. 3 (2016): 182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo16024.
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Animal space use has implications for gene flow, disease dynamics, mating systems and the evolution of sociality. Given recent attention to sociality in reptiles, lizards are an important group for expanding our understanding of animal space use. Lizard space use is commonly investigated within one population over a short period and limited attention has been given to potential predictors of site fidelity. This study evaluated site fidelity in three populations of group-living Egernia stokesii (gidgee skink) between two field surveys separated by almost a decade. Of 43 recaptured lizards, 28 (65%) occupied their original space, and 15 (36%) of those shared their space with the same other lizard or lizards in both surveys. This confirmed long-term site and social bond fidelity in E. stokesii. We found that larger lizards were more likely to be recaptured. Neither body size, individual genetic heterozygosity, nor the availability of refuges strongly predicted whether lizards were recaptured in the same or a different place. The reasons why some lizards stayed in the same space while others moved are yet to be resolved.
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Fleishman, Leo J., Ellis R. Loew, and Martin J. Whiting. "High sensitivity to short wavelengths in a lizard and implications for understanding the evolution of visual systems in lizards." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278, no. 1720 (March 9, 2011): 2891–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2011.0118.
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Progress in developing animal communication theory is frequently constrained by a poor understanding of sensory systems. For example, while lizards have been the focus of numerous studies in visual signalling, we only have data on the spectral sensitivities of a few species clustered in two major clades (Iguania and Gekkota). Using electroretinography and microspectrophotometry, we studied the visual system of the cordylid lizard Platysaurus broadleyi because it represents an unstudied clade (Scinciformata) with respect to visual systems and because UV signals feature prominently in its social behaviour. The retina possessed four classes of single and one class of double cones. Sensitivity in the ultraviolet region (UV) was approximately three times higher than previously reported for other lizards. We found more colourless oil droplets (associated with UV-sensitive (UVS) and short wavelength-sensitive (SWS) photoreceptors), suggesting that the increased sensitivity was owing to the presence of more UVS photoreceptors. Using the Vorobyev–Osorio colour discrimination model, we demonstrated that an increase in the number of UVS photoreceptors significantly enhances a lizard's ability to discriminate conspecific male throat colours. Visual systems in diurnal lizards appear to be broadly conserved, but data from additional clades are needed to confirm this.
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Gwiazdowicz, Dariusz J., Anna K. Gdula, Rafał Kurczewski, and Bogna Zawieja. "Factors influencing the level of infestation of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) on Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara (Squamata: Lacertidae)." Acarologia 60, no. 2 (April 30, 2020): 390–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.24349/acarologia/20204372.
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The purpose of this study was to analyse selected factors determining the level of infestation of Ixodes ricinus ticks on Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara lizards found in Central Europe. Both environmental factors (habitats within protected areas and areas transformed as a result of human activity) as well as morphological factors (age, sex and size of lizards, location of ticks on the lizard’s body) were assessed. We found that the age and size of a lizard played a significant role in the level of infestation, but this depended on the species and habitat. Females of both species differed significantly in their level of tick infestation; females of L. agilis had lower infection than Z. vivipara. In contrast, there was no difference in levels of infection between juveniles and males of the different species. We also found that the impact of body size changed in the different habitats: the number of ticks increased with body size in natural areas only. In addition, more frequently ticks were found in the front groin area (336 individuals) and forelimbs (202), less often on the neck (12) and never in the hind groin area. These differences might be because it is easier to infest a larger individual than a smaller one, and areas of the front of the lizard might be more accessible whilst foraging. This study provides additional information about tick infestation that may be relevant to the conservation of the species of lizards.
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Christian, KA, and KE Conley. "Activity and Resting Metabolism of Varanid Lizards Compared With Typical Lizards." Australian Journal of Zoology 42, no. 2 (1994): 185. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo9940185.
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We examined whether Australian varanids as a group are more aerobic than other lizards. The standard metabolic rate (SMR) and maximal oxygen consumption (V-O2max) were measured for four species of varanid lizards and the skink Tiliqua rugosa at 35 degrees C. These were compared to each other and to the V-O2max of the iguanid lizard Cyclura nubila by analysis of covariance with body mass as a covariate. There were no differences with respect to SMR, but the V-O2max of the lizards fell into three groups: Varanus rosenbergi, V. gouldii and V. panoptes had higher aerobic capacities than V. mertensi and Cyclura nubila, and Tiliqua rugosa had a V-O2max lower than the other species. There is no simple relationship between V-O2max and the time these lizards spend in natural activity. The summer SMRs of V. rosenbergi and T. rugosa were significantly higher than during other seasons. The V-O2max of V. rosenbergi was higher in summer than in other seasons, but T. rugosa showed no seasonal differences in V-O2max. These results indicate that the SMRs of the varanids were similar to those of other lizards, and, despite generalisations in the literature, not all varanid lizards have high aerobic capacities. Varanid lizards may be as physiologically diverse as other lizard families.
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Freidenfelds, N. A., T. R. Robbins, and T. Langkilde. "Evading invaders: the effectiveness of a behavioral response acquired through lifetime exposure." Behavioral Ecology 23, no. 3 (February 23, 2012): 659–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars011.
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Abstract Understanding the mechanisms driving adaptations to survive agonistic interactions, and their function, provides insight into how native species adapt to aggressive invaders, a growing global threat. We staged encounters between native fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus) and red imported fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) on and off the ant mound (nest) to examine the effectiveness of lizard antipredator behavior through ontogeny while focusing on the impact of lifetime and evolutionary exposure to this invasive threat. We used field-caught and lab-reared lizards from a fire ant–invaded and an uninvaded site. In ∼90% of cases, fire ants found lizards within 12 min in natural lizard habitat. Lizards that performed rapid twitches of their body and/or fled after initial encounter with a fire ant scout reduced their risk of having additional fire ants recruit to the attack. The majority of lizards that had been exposed to fire ants within their lifetime (field-caught lizards from the invaded site) behaviorally responded to attack, whereas relatively few lizards that were naïve to fire ants (all lab-reared lizards and field-caught lizards from the uninvaded site) responded. Because fewer adult lizards responded to fire ants than juveniles, they were recruited to by additional attacking ants significantly more than were juveniles. Our data suggest that the higher percentage of responsive adults within invaded populations is the result of within-lifetime selection acting against unresponsive adults, and/or lifetime exposure to fire ants triggering the retention of this juvenile behavior into adulthood, rather than selection acting on a heritable trait across generations.
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Pettigrew, Melissa, and C. Michael Bull. "The response of pygmy bluetongue lizards to simulated grazing in the field during three drought years." Wildlife Research 39, no. 6 (2012): 540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr12086.
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Context Grazing by domestic stock can directly influence and shape the functions of an ecosystem. Most remaining remnant native grasslands in Australia are under some form of grazing management, with some possible adverse impacts for endemic grassland biota. For the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis), grazing of its remnant native grassland habitat has been seen as a potential conservation threat. Aim We aimed to investigate whether lizards altered their basking and foraging behaviour as a response to simulated grazing of the grassland habitat surrounding their burrows. Methods We used field manipulations over 3 years event by manually removing above-ground vegetation in 1 m2 around occupied lizard burrows, to simulate intense grazing events. We video-recorded lizard responses to these manipulations. We filmed lizards before and after the simulated grazing event and monitored basking and foraging response. We also simultaneously filmed a control group of lizards that were not exposed to a simulated grazing event. Key results Although overall time spent basking did not differ between treatment and control groups, the lizards spent more of their basking time completely emerged (bold basking) in the grazing treatment, suggesting they changed behaviour after simulated grazing. Perhaps they were more confident of evading predators that they could more clearly see approaching. In one season lizards made more attempts to catch prey in the grazed treatment than in a control treatment following the treatment, suggesting that grazing might enhance visibility for the ambush predation method that these lizards use. Conclusions The results suggest that grazing may produce some benefits for lizards already established in burrows. This contrasts with some previous results and suggests that management of grazing regimes requires careful consideration of the conditions currently prevalent. In this case, the study was conducted during a drought period, and different results might have emerged in higher rainfall years. Implications Grazing management for lizard conservation requires detailed understanding of the complex relationships among lizard behaviour, vegetation cover and invertebrate prey availability.
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Matthews, Catherine E., Lacey D. Huffling, and Aerin Benavides. "The Ins & Outs of Developing a Field-Based Science Project." American Biology Teacher 76, no. 5 (May 1, 2014): 320–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/abt.2014.76.5.5.
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We describe a field-based lizard project we did with high school students as a part of our summer Herpetological Research Experiences. We describe data collection on lizards captured, identified, and marked as a part of our mark–recapture study. We also describe other lizard projects that are ongoing in the United States and provide resources for teachers to help them start their own field-based science projects. Our work with lizards focuses on fieldwork but also includes classroom components with captive-bred and wild-captured animals. Information on organizations that focus on lizards is provided, including several citizen science opportunities.
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Pérez-Mellado, Valentín, Mario Garrido, Zaida Ortega, Ana Pérez-Cembranos, and Abraham Mencía. "The yellow-legged gull as a predator of lizards in Balearic Islands." Amphibia-Reptilia 35, no. 2 (2014): 207–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00002945.
Full textAbstract:
Lizards and gulls cohabit in several Mediterranean islands. The yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis, was found to prey several vertebrate species. However, precise information about the interaction between gulls and other vertebrates, particularly with lizards is still scarce. The Balearic lizard, Podarcis lilfordi, shares several coastal islets with the yellow-legged gull. Using two different sources of information, we studied the interaction of both species in Colom Island (Menorca, Balearic Islands, Spain). We studied the diet of the yellow-legged gull and learnt that the Balearic lizard is not a common prey of the yellow-legged gull. On the other hand, we studied the potential predation pressure of gulls on lizards, using plasticine models of lizards. We did two different experiments from which we can conclude that yellow-legged gulls rarely attack lizards and, consequently, cannot be considered a major threat for this endemic lizard species, at least in the population under study. Finally, we obtained evidence that plasticine models can only be employed with caution to assess predation pressure of opportunistic scavengers, much as gulls are. The majority of marks on models were not the consequence of true attacks by gulls, but the result of ground exploratory behaviour of gulls in search of any edible matter. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, in the case of the yellow-legged gull, the proportion of marked models would be an indication of ground-based wandering activity, rather than a result of its predation pressure on lizards.
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Smirina, Ella, and Natalia Ananjeva. "On the longevity, growth and reproductive characteristics of Lichtenstein’s Toadhead Agama, Phrynocephalus interscapularis Lichtenstein, 1856 (Agamidae, Sauria)." Amphibia-Reptilia 38, no. 1 (2017): 31–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685381-00003080.
Full textAbstract:
We aimed to analyze growth and longevity in relation to reproductive characteristics in a population of smallest species of agamid lizard, Phrynocephalus interscapularis using skeletochronology. Growth layers in the humerus were examined to estimate lizard age and growth, and to check the hypothesis of an annual turnover of short-term life of arid small lizards. Individual age of lizards in a sample of 50 individuals was determined. Ageing by skeletochronology showed the maximum age of lizards in the population as about three years and determined the following age structure of the sample: 18 one-year-old individuals (after the first hibernation), 19 two-year old individuals and 11 three-year old ones. It was shown that in studied population the largest specimen (a male of 37 mm) is not the oldest. The problem of ephemeral annual lizards is discussed.
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Vitt, Laurie J., and Celso Morato de Carvalho. "Life in the trees: the ecology and life history of Kentropyx striatus (Teiidae) in the lavrado area of Roraima, Brazil, with comments on the life histories of tropical teiid lizards." Canadian Journal of Zoology 70, no. 10 (October 1, 1992): 1995–2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z92-270.
Full textAbstract:
The ecology and life history of the tropical teiid lizard Kentropyx striatus were studied in a grassland of northern Brazil, the lavrado area. The area, located nearly at the equator, experiences a prolonged dry season with a wet season extending from May to September. Total annual rainfall averages 1750 mm. Lizards were nonrandomly distributed among habitat patches and microhabitats. Most individuals were in trees and shrubs surrounding temporary and permanent water. Most individuals were observed active during late morning, the time period during which feeding and social interactions were observed. Lizards bask to achieve active body temperatures averaging 35.7 ± 0.23 °C. Body temperature is correlated with both substrate and air temperatures; foraging lizards maintained higher temperatures than basking lizards regardless of whether they were in sun, and lizards sampled when there was cloud cover had lower body temperatures than those sampled when sun was available. Females reach sexual maturity at 74 mm snout–vent length (SVL), produce 3–9 eggs per clutch, reproduce more than once per season, and commence reproduction during the wet season. Lizards hatch from eggs at 31 mm SVL. Maturity appears to be reached in 1 year or less. Overall, female reproductive characteristics are similar to those of other tropical teiid lizards that have been studied, with body size explaining much of the variance in reproductive characteristics across species. There is pronounced sexual dimorphism, with males larger in body size as well as certain other characteristics independent of body size. Sexual dimorphism appears to be a consequence of sexual selection. The diet is varied, but is dominated volumetrically by frogs, eruciform larvae, and spiders. Lizard body size accounted for only 5.5% of the variance in prey size and there was no difference in prey size due to sex. The occurrence of frogs and lizards in K. striatus stomachs suggests that teiid lizards may influence the structure of lizard and frog assemblages. The similarity of K. striatus to other studied tropical teiids in reproductive characteristics, morphology, activity period, activity temperatures, and diet underscore the conservative nature of the ecology of teiid lizards, presumably a consequence of their mode of prey acquisition.
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Glasheen, J., and T. Mcmahon. "Size-dependence of water-running ability in basilisk lizards (Basiliscus basiliscus)." Journal of Experimental Biology 199, no. 12 (December 1, 1996): 2611–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.199.12.2611.
Full textAbstract:
In the past, it has been proposed that basilisk lizards (Basiliscus basiliscus) are able to reach high population densities because the juveniles and adults have differing water-running abilities and therefore live in different habitats. However, there is no a priori reason to expect juveniles to be better able to run on water than adults. To determine the causal relationship between body size and water-running ability, we made three types of measurements: (1) direct morphological measurements on preserved specimens; (2) hydrodynamic measurements on physical models of the lizards' feet; and (3) kinematic measurements on basilisk lizards running on water. The information gathered from these investigations was used to develop an allometric model which predicted the maximum upward force impulses that the lizards could generate. We find that small lizards have a capacity to generate large force surpluses. A 2 g lizard can generate a maximum upward impulse that is more than twice that needed to support its body weight (225 %). In contrast, a 200 g lizard, under optimal conditions, can just barely support its body weight (111 %).
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NYHAGEN, DORTE FRIIS, CAROLINE KRAGELUND, JENS M. OLESEN, and CARL G. JONES. "Insular interactions between lizards and flowers: flower visitation by an endemic Mauritian gecko." Journal of Tropical Ecology 17, no. 5 (September 2001): 755–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467401001560.
Full textAbstract:
Lizards mainly eat arthropods, fruit, nectar, pollen and animal scats (Pérez-Mellado & Casas 1997, Whitaker 1987), using their sense of smell and good colour vision while foraging (Vinson & Vinson 1969). Although several papers have contributed to the knowledge on the relationship between lizards and floral resources, this topic is often still regarded as anecdotal. However, a few detailed ecological studies on lizard and flower interactions have been conducted, e.g. in New Zealand and the Balearic Isles (Eifler 1995, Sáez & Traveset 1995, Traveset & Sáez 1997,Whitaker 1987). Pollination by lizards was rendered likely by the following findings: first, Mediterranean lacertid lizards and New Zealand geckos have pollen adhering to their belly, throat and labium; second, they may carry pollen for several hours, and thus also transport pollen some distance away from a pollen donor plant. New Zealand geckos carry pollen up to 72 m away from donors. Good experimental evidence of lizard pollination was produced by Pérez-Mellado & Casas (1997). They showed that an umbellifer species produced less viable seeds if Podarcis lilfordi lizards were excluded from flowers.
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ElShafie, Sara J. "Body size estimation from isolated fossil bones reveals deep time evolutionary trends in North American lizards." PLOS ONE 19, no. 1 (January 5, 2024): e0296318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0296318.
Full textAbstract:
Lizards play vital roles in extant ecosystems. However, their roles in extinct ecosystems are poorly understood because the fossil record of lizards consists mostly of isolated bones. This makes it difficult to document changes in lizard morphology and body size over time, which is essential for studies of lizard paleoecology and evolution. It is also difficult to compare available fossil lizard data with existing sources of extant lizard data because extant studies rarely measure individual bones. Furthermore, no previous study has regressed measurements of individual bones to body length across crown lizard groups, nor tested those regressions on fossil skeletons. An extensive dataset of individual bone measurements from extant lizards across crown taxonomic groups is here employed to develop novel methods for estimating lizard body size from isolated fossil elements. These methods were applied to a comparably large dataset of fossil lizard specimens from the robust Paleogene record (66–23 Ma) of the Western Interior of North America. This study tests the hypothesis that anatomical proportions have been conserved within higher-level crown lizard groups since the Paleogene and can therefore be used to reconstruct snout-vent length (SVL) and mass for fossil specimens referred to the same groups. Individual bones demonstrated strong correlation with SVL in extant as well as fossil lizard specimens (R2 ≥ 0.69). Equations for mass estimation from individual bones were derived from the SVL regressions using published equations for calculating lizard body mass from SVL. The resulting body size estimates from regression equations for the entire fossil dataset revealed that lizards reached greatest maximum body size in the middle Paleogene, with the largest size class dominated by anguid lizards that exceeded 1 meter in SVL and 1.5 kg in body mass. Maximum body size decreased to under 400 mm and below 1.5 kg in the late Paleogene. No association was found between changes in maximum lizard body size and marine isotope proxies of global temperature through the Paleogene. This is the first study to investigate body size evolution across lizard clades over a deep time interval and for a large geographic region. The proposed methods can be used to generate body size regressions and provide estimates of body size for isolated lizard bones referred to any crown group.
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Costa, G. C., G. R. Colli, and R. Constantino. "Can lizard richness be driven by termite diversity? Insights from the Brazilian Cerrado." Canadian Journal of Zoology 86, no. 1 (January 2008): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z07-107.
Full textAbstract:
We test predictions of the Morton and James hypothesis, which states that high termite diversity promotes high lizard diversity. We explore consumption of termites by lizards in the Brazilian Cerrado, a system that shares many similarites with arid Australia whose fauna formed the basis for the original hypothesis. We found that Cerrado lizards prey heavily on termites. Several species had >40% of their diet consisting of termites, some species reached up to 80%. However, lizards prey on termites independently of their diversity in the environment and do not show niche segregation in relation to termite resource. Hence, our results in the Cerrado do not support the hypothesis that termite diversity can promote lizard diversity. The diets of Cerrado lizards have a high proportion of termites; however, the diets of desert lizards from the Australian and the Kalahari deserts have a much higher proportion of termites when compared with those from the Cerrado and the Amazon. Differences in termite consumption by lizards across ecosystems do not seem to be related to local termite diversity. We hypothesize that overall prey availability can explain this pattern. Several arthropod groups are abundant in the Cerrado and the Amazon. In deserts, other prey types may be less abundant; therefore, termites may be the best available resource.
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M'Closkey, Robert T., Richard J. Deslippe, Christopher P. Szpak, and Keith A. Baia. "Tree lizard distribution and mating system: the influence of habitat and food resources." Canadian Journal of Zoology 68, no. 10 (October 1, 1990): 2083–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z90-290.
Full textAbstract:
We examined the distribution of an insectivorous iguanid lizard (Iguanidae: Urosaurus ornatus, tree lizard) in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona in 1984, 1986, and 1987. The purpose of the investigation was to examine the ecological correlates of lizard distribution and mating system. Data from 420 marked lizards which were captured 1552 times provided information on habitat-level differences in lizard numbers and characteristics of home ranges in which oviposition occurred. In addition, we evaluated the role of arthropod food resources in the distribution of female home range and in the mating status of males. In dry washes tree lizards occupied mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) trees, whereas in flatland habitat they lived in mesquite trees and other sites (dead mesquite and saguaro cactus, Carnegeia gigantea). Lizards were more abundant in dry washes than flatland habitat. The lizard mating system was variable and a greater proportion of males were polygynous in wash (33–67%) compared with flatland (7–33%) habitat. In the flatland, home ranges in which females oviposited could be distinguished from vacant sites by soil hardness, shrub cover, and the presence of wood rat (Neotoma albigula) nests. Arthropod abundance did not differ between female home ranges and nearest vacant site nor between habitats and among male territories. Therefore, food resource distribution does not appear to be a determinant of either female distribution or territory quality in male tree lizards.
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Kidov, A. A. "Parasite-host relationships of the ixodid tick Ixodes Ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Hyrcanian meadow lizard Darevskia practicola hyrcanica (Tuniyev, Doronin, Kidov et Tuniyev, 2011) in Talysh Mountains (Southeastern Azerbaijan)." Russian Journal of Parasitology 12, no. 1 (February 27, 2018): 27–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.31016/1998-8435-2018-12-1-27-34.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of the research: to identify features of the parasite-host relations of the European common tick, Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Hyrcanian meadow lizard, Darevskia praticola hyrcanica (Tuniyev, Doronin, Kidov, et Tuniyev), 2011 in spring period. Materials and methods. The study was carried out in May 2016 in the Gadazyghahi natural boundaries in Astara region of Azerbaijan. The animals were caught on the routes, divided into three mature groups (adult females, males and juvenile lizards) and examined for the presence of ticks. Frequency of occurrence, abundance and location of parasites were determined according to standard methods. Localization of parasites on lizards’ body was defined by the standard scheme. Results and discussion. Only larvae and nymphs of the I. ricinus were found on the lizards. Ticks were found only on 32 lizards of 123 examined. The distribution of ticks in year-old lizards was 10,8%, adult females 28,6%, and adult males 35,3%. The distribution of feeding ticks is aggregated: 26 % of examined lizards were feeders for 100% of ticks. Higher abundance of parasites per one animal was observed in males (on average 3,1±0,78 ticks on one male and 1,6±0,36 on one female). The lowest value of parasite abundance was defined on one-year-old animals (no more than one tick per lizard). The ticks were attached on the forelegs, neck and sides of lizards. 89% of ticks were located under the forelegs. Domestic animals are the main feeders of imago I. ricinus, and the lizards provide feeding for larvae and nymphs.
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Yermolenko, S. V., V. Y. Gasso, V. A. Spirina, and A. O. Huslystyi. "Influence of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides on lizards (Reptilia, Squamata) (a review)." Питання степового лісознавства та лісової рекультивації земель 50 (September 15, 2021): 81–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.15421/442109.
Full textAbstract:
Pyrethroid and neonicotinoid pesticides are synthetic substances that are distributed in different economic activity spheres and until recent times were considered one of the safe types of insecticides. It is known that the use of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides have certain environmental risks for animal populations. Reptiles manifest a significant sensitivity to this family of insecticides. Lizards (Lacertilia) is a numerous group of animals, a large number of species of which is associated with biotopes located in the landscapes influenced by pesticides. Features of toxic effects of pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides are investigated on a small number of Lacertilia species and mainly on small lizards. An analysis of previous studies allowed identifying certain features of the toxic effect of pyrethroids and neonicotinoids on the lizards. Affecting this group of insecticides in lizards may increase mortality and neurological deviations, whose symptoms may reduce over time. Laboratory studies indicate that these substances can lead to increased lizard lethality and to hormonal, biochemical, and neuralgic deviations. The conducted studies indicate that these insecticides have an antiandrogenic effect that may decrease the reproductive success of lizards. The metabolism of insecticides in the lizard organism causes the formation of toxic metabolites, which may be accompanied by a greater poisoning of the lizard body than detoxification. Enantiomers of the investigated insecticides, exhibit a different degree of toxicity. A number of parameters of toxic effects are proposed as biomarkers of intoxication with pyrethroid and neonicotinoid insecticides. Lizards can be used for bioindication of synthetic insecticides, but the research activities on this issue began to grow in recent decades.
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Rabiu, Safanu. "Dietary resource partitioning among age-sex classes of Agama agama (Squamata: Agamidae) assessed by fecal pellet analysis." Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology 18, no. 1 (June 18, 2019): 63–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v18i1p63-75.
Full textAbstract:
Dietary resource partitioning among age-sex classes of Agama agama (Squamata: Agamidae) assessed by fecal pellet analysis. Dietary analysis is critical to understand the ecological roles of lizards, especially of species of Agama that are colonizing continents and islands from which they were previously absent. The foraging habits of four groups—viz., adult females, adult males, and young and juveniles (of both sexes)—of Agama agama in Nigeria were observed to assess the diet of the lizards and the contribution of the diet to separating age-sex classes. The claim that fying arthropods are less likely to be eaten by lizards was tested, and the hypothesis of dietary opportunism was explored. Sets (3–5 pellets) of 1453 fecal pellets collected during a 2-yr period were linked to individual lizards. Multivariate discriminant analysis of individual food items showed 61% lizards were correctly classifed to age-sex. However, items pooled into composite food groups, yielded fewer (43%) correctly classifed lizards. Cluster Analysis indicated that individual foods were less common (46.3%) to lizard classes than composite foods (76.1%). Thus, lizard age-sex classes are better differentiated when prey item is identifed at the lowest possible taxonomic level. Overall, arthropods are the largest, composite food for all lizard classes but, the relative amounts of different arthropod taxa varies signifcantly, and is highest for Diptera. Other foods include plants, seeds, and non-arthropod animal material. Differing coeffcients of variation accentuate dietary disparities within classes. Proportions of most individual and composite diet items differ signifcantly by month, season, and study site. Although consumed by lizards, no traces of white mold were found in the feces; this underscores the value of combining fecal analysis with surveillance of foraging habits of Agama agama.
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Altunışık, Abdullah, and Halit Eksilmez. "Demographic life history traits in a population of a critically endangered species, Darevskia dryada (Darevsky & Tuniyev, 1997)." Animal Biology 68, no. 1 (2018): 27–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15707563-17000092.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractKnowing the age structure of endangered species is important in order to contribute to future conservation studies for such species. In this context, we investigated age structure, age at sexual maturity, potential reproductive lifespan and longevity in a population of the Charnali lizard,Darevskia dryada, an endangered species from Turkey. The results show that the Charnali lizard has a longer life span than other lizards of the genusDarevskiathat live in the same region. We estimated that these lizards attain their sexual maturity at the age of one or two years and the potential reproductive life span for males and females is six and five years, respectively. As in many other lizards, the Charnali lizard exhibited a low-level male-biased sexual dimorphism in terms of increased size. We believe that this study, in which prior information related to the Charnali lizard is shared, will contribute to future conservation activities for this critically endangered species.
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Freitas, LM, JFFS Paranaíba, APS Peréz, MRF Machado, and FC Lima. "Toxicity of pesticides in lizards." Human & Experimental Toxicology 39, no. 5 (January 20, 2020): 596–604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0960327119899980.
Full textAbstract:
Many threats exist to reptile populations, environmental pollutants being one of them. Lizards and other reptiles are usually not taken into consideration in environmental risk assessments, with the use of surrogate species for their estimates. Unfortunately, not all pesticides have the same effects in the reptile species and on these surrogates, birds and mammals, some being more toxic in lizards. This difference brings the need to evaluate their toxicity in lizards to safeguard its protection. Studies in the last decades involving contaminants’ toxicity in lizard species have increased, thus we proposed to gather these information in this comprehensive review. Through searches in databases about the toxicity of pesticides in lizards, 16 scientific articles were found. Most studies investigated locomotor performance, histopathology, oxidative stress, neurotoxicology, and genetic damage from diverse pesticides with different modes of action. Progress has been made to acquire data on lizard ecotoxicology and more research is needed to cover more variables, such as studies in the embryologic stage and different pesticides.
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Mohanty, Nitya Prakash, Surendran Harikrishnan, and Karthikeyan Vasudevan. "Watch out where you sleep: nocturnal sleeping behaviour of Bay Island lizards." PeerJ 4 (April 25, 2016): e1856. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1856.
Full textAbstract:
Sleeping exposes lizards to predation. Therefore, sleeping strategies must be directed towards avoiding predation and might vary among syntopic species. We studied sleeping site characteristics of two syntopic, congeneric lizards—the Bay Island forest lizard,Coryphophylax subcristatusand the short-tailed Bay Island lizard,C. brevicaudusand evaluated inter-specific differences. We measured structural, microclimatic and potential predator avoidance at the sleeping perches of 386C. subcristatusand 185C. brevicaudus. Contrary to our expectation, we found similar perch use in both species. The lizards appeared to use narrow girth perch plants and accessed perches by moving both vertically and horizontally. Most lizards slept on leaves, with their heads directed towards the potential path of a predator approaching from the plant base. There was no inter-specific competition in the choices of sleeping perches. These choices indicate an anti-predator strategy involving both tactile and visual cues. This study provides insight into a rarely studied behaviour in reptiles and its adaptive significance.
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Ortega, Zaida, Abraham Mencía, Aline Giroux, and Valentín Pérez-Mellado. "Broad seasonal changes in thermoregulation of Podarcis lilfordi (Squamata, Lacertidae) at Binicodrell islet (Menorca, Spain)." Herpetozoa 32 (May 13, 2019): 57–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/herpetozoa.32.e35662.
Full textAbstract:
Most lizards maintain quite constant body temperatures by behavioural means. Seasonal variations of environmental factors, such as temperature, sunlight exposure and wind intensity, influence lizard thermoregulatory abilities. Understanding how seasonal environmental shifts influence lizards’ thermoregulation helps us to know how they deal behaviourally with environmental changes, in general. We examined seasonal shifts (spring vs. summer) in behavioural thermoregulation in Podarcislilfordi from Binicodrell islet (Menorca, Spain). Operative temperatures varied between microhabitats and seasons, being lower in spring than in summer, regardless of sunlight exposure. Lizard body temperatures were also lower in spring than in summer. Lizards used sunny microhabitats more frequently in spring and shaded areas in summer. Habitat thermal quality was similar during both seasons, but lizards thermoregulated less accurately in spring than in summer. Thermoregulatory effectiveness was low in spring (0.28) and moderate in summer (0.76). In comparison with previously published results, our findings showed the marked seasonal variation in the effectiveness of thermoregulation amongst island populations, which should be considered in future comparative studies.
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López, Pilar, and José Martín. "Lipids in the Femoral Gland Secretions of Male Schreiber’s Green Lizards, Lacerta schreiberi." Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C 61, no. 9-10 (October 1, 2006): 763–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/znc-2006-9-1025.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractIn spite of the importance of chemoreception and chemical signals in social organization of lizards, only a few studies have examined the chemical composition of secretions that lizards use for intraspecific communication. The secretion of the femoral glands of male Schreiber’s green lizards (Lacerta schreiberi) contains 51 lipophilic compounds, including several steroids, α-tocopherol, n-C9 to n-C22 carboxylic acids and their esteres, and minor components such as alcohols between C12 and C24, two lactones, two ketones, and squalene. These compounds were identified on the basis of mass spectra, obtained by GC-MS. We compared these chemicals with those found in other lizard species, and discussed how environmental conditions could explain the differential presence of chemicals in different lizards. Particularly, the high abundance of α-tocopherol in this lizard is suggested to contribute to avoid oxidation of other lipids in secretions, increasing chemical stability of scent marks in the humid conditions of its habitat.
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Gabirot, M., A. M. Castilla, P. López, and J. Martín. "Chemosensory species recognition may reduce the frequency of hybridization between native and introduced lizards." Canadian Journal of Zoology 88, no. 1 (January 2010): 73–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z09-120.
Full textAbstract:
The introduction of alien species to islands by human activity can cause catastrophic consequences for small populations of island endemics. Hybridization between the endangered and endemic insular lizard Podarcis atrata (Boscá, 1916) from the Columbretes Islands (Mediterranean, Spain) and the common mainland lizard Podarcis hispanica (Steindachner, 1870) could potentially occur because mainland haplotypes have already been detected in the islands, the two species are closely genetically related, and the frequency of visitors to these islands is increasing. However, reproductive decisions of lizards are often mediated by species recognition mechanisms based on chemical cues. On the basis of this observation, even if some mainland P. hispanica lizards were introduced to the islands, interspecific recognition might make rare an eventual hybridization with the insular P. atrata. We examined interspecific chemical recognition between the insular P. atrata and the mainland P. hispanica. Our results showed that lizards of both sexes responded more strongly (i.e., directed a significantly higher number of tongue flicks) to scents of conspecific individuals than to scents of heterospecifics. Chemical recognition of conspecifics by endemic island P. atrata lizards may reduce the occurrence of hybridization with introduced mainland P. hispanica lizards and protect the insular gene pool.
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Fava, Gustavo A., and Juan C. Acosta. "Escape distance and escape latency following simulated rapid bird attacks in an Andean lizard, Phymaturus williamsi." Behaviour 155, no. 10-12 (2018): 861–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003506.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Predatory birds represent the greatest risk for many lizard species. However, little is known about the functional relationship between the escape distance and escape latency of lizards during a rapid bird attack. We hypothesised that escape latency and distance in the Andean lizard species Phymaturus williamsi would increase proportionally, but vary according to the means of escape. Over a three-year period we observed seven types of antipredatory behaviour in 98% P. williamsi lizards on simulated predatory bird attacks. Escape distance and latency were positively correlated. 65% of lizards emerged from their refuge within 2 min of an attack. All of these behaviours were positively correlated with escape latency and distance, although we found the former to be more precise. This study contributes to a better understanding of the general antipredatory behaviour in this species of Andean lizard, and will assist in future decisions concerning its conservation.
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Ginsberg, Howard S., Graham J. Hickling, Genevieve Pang, Jean I. Tsao, Meghan Fitzgerald, Breann Ross, Eric L. Rulison, and Russell L. Burke. "Selective Host Attachment by Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae): Tick–Lizard Associations in the Southeastern United States." Journal of Medical Entomology 59, no. 1 (October 29, 2021): 267–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab181.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract Questing behavior and host associations of immature blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, from the southeastern United States are known to differ from those in the north. To elucidate these relationships we describe host associations of larval and nymphal I. scapularis from 8 lizard species sampled from 5 sites in the southeastern U.S. Larvae and nymphs attached in greater numbers to larger lizards than to smaller lizards, with differential levels of attachment to different lizard species. Blacklegged ticks are generally attached to skinks of the genus Plestiodon in greater numbers per unit lizard weight than to anoles (Anolis) or fence lizards (Sceloporus). The broad-headed skink, Plestiodon laticeps (Schneider), was a particularly important host for immature I. scapularis in our study and in several previous studies of tick–host associations in the southeast. Blacklegged ticks show selective attachment to Plestiodon lizard hosts in the southeast, but whether this results from behavioral host preferences or from ecological factors such as timing or microhabitat distributions of tick questing and host activity remains to be determined.
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Paterson, James E., Stacey L. Weiss, and Gabriel Blouin-Demers. "Experimental removal reveals only weak interspecific competition between two coexisting lizards." Canadian Journal of Zoology 96, no. 8 (August 2018): 888–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0279.
Full textAbstract:
Competition for resources is an important mechanism that shapes ecological communities. Interspecific competition can affect habitat selection, fitness, and abundance in animals. We used a removal experiment and mark–recapture to test the hypothesis that competition with the larger and more abundant Striped Plateau Lizard (Sceloporus virgatus H.M. Smith, 1938) limits habitat selection, fitness, and abundance in Ornate Tree Lizards (Urosaurus ornatus (Baird in Baird and Girard, 1852)). Ornate Tree Lizards in the plots where Striped Plateau Lizards were removed switched between habitat types more frequently and moved farther than Ornate Tree Lizards in control plots. However, there were no significant changes in the relative densities of Ornate Tree Lizards in each habitat type or in microhabitat use. We also found no changes in growth rates, survival, or abundance of Ornate Tree Lizards in response to the removal of Striped Plateau Lizards. Our results suggest that interspecific competition was not strong enough to limit habitat use or abundance of Ornate Tree Lizards. Perhaps interspecific competition is weak between coexisting species when resource levels are not severely depleted. Therefore, it is important to consider environmental conditions when assessing the importance of interspecific competition.
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Ardiana, Ardiana, Muhammad Ja’far Luthfi, Nyoman Puniawati Soesilo, Laila Ainun Nisa, and Risti Widyaningsih. "Macro and Microanatomical Structures of Lizard’s Regenerate Tail (Mabouya multifasciata Kuhl, 1820)." Proceeding International Conference on Science and Engineering 2 (March 1, 2019): 25–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.14421/icse.v2.49.
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Lizards are animals that can do autotomy. Research on the autotomy of lizard’s tail has been carried out, but few have examined about axial skeletons that focus on vertebrae caudales or arranged muscles. That is the background of this research. This research is expected to be a database for further research and as a comparison between animals that can perform other autotomies. This research intend to determine the macro and micro structures of the anatomical axial skeleton lizard’s regenerate tail and to know the micro structures of anatomy muscular segmentation lizard’s regenerate tail. The used methods are X-Ray, Alizarin Red S and Alcian Blue, Paraffin method with Hematoxylin-Eosin and Mallory Triple Strain staining. The result showed that the lizard's regenerate tail was darker than the original. On observations using X-Ray and Alizarin staining showed that the original tail is seen broad and have a Processus. The original lizard's tail is composed of bones, because it is red which shows perfectly calcified bones. While the regenerate of the lizard's tail is composed of bones in the form of long pipes which are red-colored because they have calcified from outside. Muscular segmentation of the original lizard's tail when viewed transversely has irregular segments. While the lizard's regenerate tail has 15 muscle segments. Muscles are composed of a collection of myotubes that become myotomes, each of myotomes confined by the myoseptum.
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Murray, Ian W., Andrea Fuller, Hilary M. Lease, Duncan Mitchell, Blair O. Wolf, and Robyn S. Hetem. "The actively foraging desert lizard Pedioplanis husabensis (Husab Sand Lizard) behaviorally optimizes its energetic economy." Canadian Journal of Zoology 92, no. 10 (October 2014): 905–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2014-0086.
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The Husab Sand Lizard (Pedioplanis husabensis Berger-Dell’Mour and Mayer, 1989) is a recently described lacertid lizard endemic to a small region in the central Namib Desert. Although this species is of conservation concern, very little is known about how this lizard functions in its environment. We used the doubly labeled water method to measure the field energetics in this lizard species and we report on its foraging behavior. Pedioplanis husabensis had summer field metabolic rates (330 ± 140 J·d−1) that were similar to those of other similarly sized sit-and-wait foraging lizards (360 J·d−1), but only 43% that of an active foraging lizard of the same mass (770 J·d−1), despite using a movement-intensive, active foraging strategy. Additionally, the mean water influx rate (0.06 ± 0.03 mL·d−1) was 67% that of a desert reptile of the same size (0.09 mL·d−1). Active body temperatures were significantly lower in summer (34.3 ± 1.7 °C) than they were in autumn (36.8 ± 1.6 °C), and daily activity of lizards increased from 2.6 ± 0.9 h·d−1 in summer to 4.3 ± 1.9 h·d−1 in autumn. Relative to other species of actively foraging desert lizards, P. husabensis has lower energy requirements.
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Campos, Stephanie M., and Selma S. Belkasim. "Chemical Communication in Lizards and a Potential Role for Vasotocin in Modulating Social Interactions." Integrative and Comparative Biology 61, no. 1 (May 3, 2021): 205–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/icab044.
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Synopsis Lizards use chemical communication to mediate many reproductive, competitive, and social behaviors, but the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying chemical communication in lizards are not well understood and understudied. By implementing a neuroendocrine approach to the study of chemical communication in reptiles, we can address a major gap in our knowledge of the evolutionary mechanisms shaping chemical communication in vertebrates. The neuropeptide arginine vasotocin (AVT) and its mammalian homolog vasopressin are responsible for a broad spectrum of diversity in competitive and reproductive strategies in many vertebrates, mediating social behavior through the chemosensory modality. In this review, we posit that, though limited, the available data on AVT-mediated chemical communication in lizards reveal intriguing patterns that suggest AVT plays a more prominent role in lizard chemosensory behavior than previously appreciated. We argue that these results warrant more research into the mechanisms used by AVT to modify the performance of chemosensory behavior and responses to conspecific chemical signals. We first provide a broad overview of the known social functions of chemical signals in lizards, the glandular sources of chemical signal production in lizards (e.g., epidermal secretory glands), and the chemosensory detection methods and mechanisms used by lizards. Then, we review the locations of vasotocinergic populations and neuronal projections in lizard brains, as well as sites of peripheral receptors for AVT in lizards. Finally, we end with a case study in green anoles (Anolis carolinensis), discussing findings from recently published work on the impact of AVT in adult males on chemosensory communication during social interactions, adding new data from a similar study in which we tested the impact of AVT on chemosensory behavior of adult females. We offer concluding remarks on addressing several fundamental questions regarding the role of AVT in chemosensory communication and social behavior in lizards.
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Fenner, Aaron L., and C. Michael Bull. "The use of scats as social signals in a solitary, endangered scincid lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis." Wildlife Research 37, no. 7 (2010): 582. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10122.
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Context The deliberate accumulation of faeces or scats in one location is a common behaviour used for social signalling. The endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis, is a solitary-living species that appears to use scats as social signals. Previous studies have found that these lizards approach burrows more cautiously if there is a conspecific scat present and behave differently to scats from male and female conspecifics, indicating that these lizards can recognise scat-based conspecific cues. For endangered species, understanding how an animal uses and responds to chemical cues has the potential to become a powerful tool in conservation management. Aims To investigate whether these solitary lizards might be using scats as social signals by testing whether scats were being deposited in a non-random pattern designed to maximise their exposure to the nearest neighbour conspecifics. Method In the present study, we investigated the spatial pattern of scatting behaviour by pygmy bluetongue lizards in the field. Results Scats were consistently deposited in one direction that was significantly aligned with the nearest occupied burrow of a neighbouring lizard. The same deposition sites were used when previous scats were either destroyed by rain, or experimentally moved to a different location. Male lizards deposited scats significantly closer to their own burrows when neighbours were closer. Key conclusions The results were consistent with the lizards using scats to advertise their presence and status. The scat-deposition patterns observed in the present study suggest that scats are used as an olfactory signal associated with social organisation of pygmy bluetongue lizards. Implications Current plans for the conservation management of this endangered species include translocations. By understanding how these lizards respond to, and use chemical cues, we may be able to use this knowledge to aid in translocation programs, e.g. by pre-establishing territories for individuals before they are introduced into the population.
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Richter, Dania, and Franz-Rainer Matuschka. "Perpetuation of the Lyme Disease Spirochete Borrelia lusitaniae by Lizards." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 72, no. 7 (July 2006): 4627–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/aem.00285-06.
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ABSTRACT To determine whether the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia lusitaniae is associated with lizards, we compared the prevalence and genospecies of spirochetes present in rodent- and lizard-associated ticks at a site where this spirochete frequently infects questing ticks. Whereas questing nymphal Ixodes ricinus ticks were infected mainly by Borrelia afzelii, one-half of the infected adult ticks harbored B. lusitaniae at our study site. Lyme disease spirochetes were more prevalent in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) and common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis) than in small rodents. Although subadult ticks feeding on rodents acquired mainly B. afzelii, subadult ticks feeding on lizards became infected by B. lusitaniae. Genetic analysis confirmed that the spirochetes isolated from ticks feeding on lizards are members of the B. lusitaniae genospecies and resemble type strain PotiB2. At our central European study site, lizards, which were previously considered zooprophylactic for the agent of Lyme disease, appear to perpetuate B. lusitaniae.
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Álvarez-Ruiz, Lola, Josabel Belliure, and Juli G. Pausas. "Fire-driven behavioral response to smoke in a Mediterranean lizard." Behavioral Ecology 32, no. 4 (April 3, 2021): 662–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arab010.
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Abstract The evolutionary role of fire in animals has been poorly explored. Reptiles use sensory cues, such as smell (chemoreception), to detect threats and flee. In Mediterranean ecosystems, fire is a threat faced by reptiles. We hypothesized that the Mediterranean lizard Psammodromus algirus recognizes the threat of fire by detecting the smoke, which triggers a behavioral response that enhances survival in fire-prone ecosystems. We predicted that lizards from fire-prone ecosystems will be more sensitive to fire stimulus than those from ecosystems that rarely burn. We conducted a terrarium experiment in which lizards from habitats with contrasted fire regimes (fire-prone vs. non-fire-prone) were exposed to smoke versus control (false smoke) treatment. We found that, in populations from fire-prone habitats, more lizards reacted to smoke, and their behavioral response was more intense than in lizard populations from non-fire-prone habitats. Our results suggest that an enhanced response to smoke may be adaptive in lizards from fire-prone ecosystems as it increases the chance for survival. We provide evidence that fire is likely an evolutionary driver shaping behavioral traits in lizard populations exposed to frequent wildfires. Understanding ecological and evolutionary processes shaping animal populations is relevant for species conservation in a changing fire regime world.
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Weitzman, Chava L., Karen Gibb, and Keith Christian. "Skin bacterial diversity is higher on lizards than sympatric frogs in tropical Australia." PeerJ 6 (November 14, 2018): e5960. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5960.
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Animal skin acts as a barrier between the organism and its environment and provides the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Thus, skin surfaces harbor communities of microbes that are interacting with both the host and its environment. Amphibian skin bacteria form distinct communities closely tied to their host species, but few studies have compared bacterial communities between amphibians and other, non-amphibian sympatric animals. Notably, skin microbes on reptiles have gained little attention. We used next-generation sequencing technology to describe bacterial communities on the skin of three lizard species and compared them to bacteria on six cohabiting frog species in the Northern Territory of Australia. We found bacterial communities had higher richness and diversity on lizards than frogs, with different community composition between reptiles and amphibians and among species. Core bacteria on the three lizard species overlapped by over 100 operational taxonomic units. The bacterial communities were similar within species of frogs and lizards, but the communities tended to be more similar between lizard species than between frog species and when comparing lizards with frogs. The diverse bacteria found on lizards invites further questions on how and how well reptiles interact with microorganisms through their scaly skin.
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Ruiz-Monachesi, M. R., A. Paz, and M. Quipildor. "Hemipenes eversion behavior: a new form of communication in two Liolaemus lizards (Iguania: Liolaemidae)." Canadian Journal of Zoology 97, no. 3 (March 2019): 187–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2018-0195.
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Males of several animals have intromittent organs and may use these in a communicative context during sexual or intrasexual interactions. In some lizards, hemipenes eversion behavior have been observed, and the aim of this study is to find out whether this behavior is functionally significant under a communicative approach. Here, we investigated the eversion of hemipenes in the Light Blue Lizard (Liolaemus coeruleus Cei and Ortiz-Zapata, 1983) and in the Valley Lizard (Liolaemus quilmes Etheridge, 1993) by filming the response of male focal lizards in different experimental settings: (i) an agonistic context, i.e., with a conspecific male, (ii) a sexual context, i.e., with a conspecific female, and (iii) a control treatment, i.e., without a treatment lizard. In both species, focal lizards showed this behavior only in an agonistic context, with interspecific differences as follows. Liolaemus coeruleus has longer times until eversion and dragging of hemipenes; however, it has shorter time of eversion and exposition of the hemipenes. Liolaemus quilmes has the opposite pattern compared with L. coeruleus. These indicate that eversion of the hemipenes can act as a visual display and as a signal of aggressive behavior towards conspecific rival males. The present study offers a new behavioral perspective on the use of masculine genitalia in lizards.
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Leu, Stephan T., Grant Jackson, John F. Roddick, and C. Michael Bull. "Lizard movement tracks: variation in path re-use behaviour is consistent with a scent-marking function." PeerJ 4 (March 22, 2016): e1844. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1844.
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Individual movement influences the spatial and social structuring of a population. Animals regularly use the same paths to move efficiently to familiar places, or to patrol and mark home ranges. We found that Australian sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa), a monogamous species with stable pair-bonds, repeatedly used the same paths within their home ranges and investigated whether path re-use functions as a scent-marking behaviour, or whether it is influenced by site familiarity. Lizards can leave scent trails on the substrate when moving through the environment and have a well-developed vomeronasal system to detect and respond to those scents. Path re-use would allow sleepy lizards to concentrate scent marks along these well-used trails, advertising their presence. Hypotheses of mate attraction and mating competition predict that sleepy lizard males, which experience greater intra-sexual competition, mark more strongly. Consistent with those hypotheses, males re-used their paths more than females, and lizards that showed pairing behaviour with individuals of the opposite sex re-used paths more than unpaired lizards, particularly among females. Hinterland marking is most economic when home ranges are large and mobility is low, as is the case in the sleepy lizard. Consistent with this strategy, re-used paths were predominantly located in the inner 50% home range areas. Together, our detailed movement analyses suggest that path re-use is a scent marking behaviour in the sleepy lizard. We also investigated but found less support for alternative explanations of path re-use behaviour, such as site familiarity and spatial knowledge. Lizards established the same number of paths, and used them as often, whether they had occupied their home ranges for one or for more years. We discuss our findings in relation to maintenance of the monogamous mating system of this species, and the spatial and social structuring of the population.
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Huo, Xin, Kirati Kunya, Nirattisai Ritthijan, Pimchanok Lohtongkam, Catthareeya Sukwan, Sompong Wongma, Prayuth Kusonrat, and Panich Kumroptanasan. "A preliminary study of the effects of enrichment on the activity and spatial distribution of captive monitor lizards in Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo, Thailand." Veterinary Integrative Sciences 22, no. 1 (August 8, 2024): 193–205. http://dx.doi.org/10.12982/vis.2024.015.
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The monitor lizard (Varanus salvator) has the widest distribution among all extant varanids found across South and Southeast Asia. However, behavioral studies on captive monitor lizard have not been well-documented. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of enrichment items on the activity and spatial distribution of captive monitor lizards. The study involved three adult captive Black water monitors (Hiea dam), three adult Roughnecked monitors (Ngu-hao Chang), and two adult Dumeril’s monitors (Tut-too) in outdoor enclosures. Three treatments were administered: control (no enrichment item), cone (enrichment item), and takraw (enrichment item: a rattan ball). The frequency of activity and spatial distribution of three species of monitor lizards were recorded. The results showed that the percentages of activity and spatial distribution of three species of monitor lizards were not significantly affected by the enrichment items (P > 0.05). However, there were significant differences only in lying behavior between the Hiea dam, Ngu-hao Chang, and Tut-too monitors (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the general behaviors of captive Hiea dam, Ngu-hao chang, and Tut-too monitor lizards were similar, and their spatial distribution was also similar. The behavior and spatial distribution of captive monitor lizards were not affected by the enrichment items.