Blue‐tailed skinks have predation‐dependent threat discrimination

Abstract

Organisms use a variety of different sensory modalities (i.e., visual, olfactory, acoustic, and tactile) to detect cues that provide information that enhances survival (Von der Emde & Warrant, 2015). Specific cues are used to identify food (Krebs & Inman, 1992), mates (Crews & Moore, 1986), and to assess risk, which often involves detecting predators (Apfelbach et al., 2005). Early detection of predators is crucial for fitness, especially for prey that rely on escape.Upon detecting a predator, an individual may flee the area or flee to