Relationship of Escape Behavior and Camouflage in Anoline Lizards

Heatwole, Harold

doi:10.2307/1441557

Cited by 109 publications

(89 citation statements)

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“…Although mediolateral movements of the vertebral column are reduced in chameleons , movements of the body around the substrate nevertheless occur, e.g. if an animal needs to hide from a potential predator in order to prevent detection (Heatwole, 1968). Although the direct measurement of torques was not possible within this study, we were able to use m-l and d-v SRFs to derive occurring shear forces, which in part reflect occurring rotational moments (Lammers and Gauntner, 2008;Lammers, 2009 (Schmitt, 2003a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Biodynamics of climbing: effects of substrate orientation on the locomotion of a highly arboreal lizard (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Krause

Fischer

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYArboreal substrates differ not only in diameter, but also in continuity and orientation. To gain more insight into the dynamics of small-branch locomotion in tetrapods we studied the veiled chameleon walking on inclined and declined perches of up to 60deg slope. We found that forelimbs and hindlimbs contribute equally to the bodyʼs progression along inclines and declines. The higher-positioned limbʼs vertical impulses decreased with slope. And although vertical impulses in the lower-positioned limb increased with substrate slope, peak vertical forces decreased. The decrease in peak vertical forces in the lower-positioned limb can be explained by a considerable increase of tensile forces in the higher-positioned limb as the slope increases. In addition, limbs were more crouched on slopes whereas no changes in forward and backward reach were observed. Mediolateral impulses were the smallest amongst the force components, and lateral impulses (medially directed limb forces) exceeded medial impulses (laterally directed limb forces). On inclines and declines, limb placement was more variable than on level substrates. The tail never contacted the substrate during level locomotion; however, on inclines and declines, the tail was held closer to the substrate, with short substrate contacts in one-third of the analyzed trials. Regardless of substrate orientation the tail was always held straight above the branch; therefore, rotational moments induced by the tail were minimized. Supplementary material available online at

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Biodynamics of climbing: effects of substrate orientation on the locomotion of a highly arboreal lizard (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Krause

Fischer

2012

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…By staying immobile, anoles may be able to escape detection by Alsophis. This is suggested by the cryptic coloration of A. cristatellus (Heatwole 1968) and the fact that Alsophis portoricensis relies mainly on visual stimuli to localize its prey (Leal & Thomas 1994), and thus usually does not attack anoles until they move (Rodrígues-Robles 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Field studies of anti-predator responses in Anolis have emphasized the study of flight as the main escape tactic of anoles (Rand 1964b;Heatwole 1968;. In all of these studies (as in almost all studies of antipredator behaviour in reptiles; Greene 1988), the responses to an approaching human predator were extrapolated to a natural predator.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Signalling displays during predator–prey interactions in a Puerto Rican anole,Anolis cristatellus

1997

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Abstract. We examined conspicuous signalling displays in the context of predator-prey interactions. To determine in which context Puerto Rican crested anoles, Anolis cristatellus, perform conspicuous signals, we exposed wild lizards to a model of a natural snake predator. The lizards gave six behavioural responses to the model: immobility, predator inspection, flight, lateral face-off, dewlapping and push-ups. They displayed significantly more push-ups and push-up bouts in the presence of the snake model. Alternative theories regarding the function of conspicuous signals in A. cristatellus, the flash concealment and predator deterrent hypotheses, were also tested. The flash concealment hypothesis proposes that the sudden display exhibition of signalling behaviour followed by the flight of the animal may confuse the predator about the position of the prey, thus causing the predator to abort the attack. The pursuit deterrent hypothesis contends that because the chances of the predator successfully attacking its prey decrease when the prey is aware of the incoming predator, prey have evolved signalling behaviours that communicate to the predator that it has been detected, therefore discouraging the attack.

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“…A number of naturalistic studies with several different anoline species have shown that lizards select an appropriate habitat when given a choice between several different habitats (Kiester, Gorman, & Arroyo, 1975;Talbot, 1977). Heatwole (1968) has also noted that the availability of nearby camouflage can increase the defensive distance of certain anoles.…”

Section: Charles W Hennig Tulane University New Orleans Louisianamentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of physical environment, time in captivity, and defensive distance on tonic immobility, freezing, and flight behaviors inAnolis carolinensis

Hennig

1979

Animal Learning & Behavior

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The effeets of physical environment, time in eaptivity, and distanee between potential predator and prey on defensive behaviors were examined in Anolis carolinensis. When the experimenter was nearby, duration of immobility was significantly longer in the open than in areas with nearby foliage. However, this relationship between duration of immobility and the testing environment in the anole was reversed by Day 9 in eaptivity. Flight lateney of anoles after termination of immobility was significantly shorter in anoles housed in terraria eontaining foliage, while greater incidenee of freezing was shown by anoles housed in empty terraria. These results suggest that although the physical environment has strong effects on defense behaviors, the different defensive reaetions are influeneed in different ways.

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Relationship of Escape Behavior and Camouflage in Anoline Lizards

Cited by 109 publications

References 0 publications

Biodynamics of climbing: effects of substrate orientation on the locomotion of a highly arboreal lizard (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Biodynamics of climbing: effects of substrate orientation on the locomotion of a highly arboreal lizard (Chamaeleo calyptratus)

Signalling displays during predator–prey interactions in a Puerto Rican anole,Anolis cristatellus

The effects of physical environment, time in captivity, and defensive distance on tonic immobility, freezing, and flight behaviors inAnolis carolinensis

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