Chemical cues may allow a fossorial amphisbaenian reptile to avoid extremely saline soils when selecting microhabitats

Soil pollution by heavy metals correlates with levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites of a fossorial amphisbaenian reptile

“…However, alternatively, this might be simply explained because, on the one hand, the study islands show a more or less homogeneous distribution of highly eutrophicated soils throughout all their surfaces. Also, while soil salinity levels are known to affect body condition of amphisbaenians ( Martín et al , 2015 ), these animals seem to actively avoid using extreme saline soils ( Martín et al , 2013a , 2021a ). Thus, even if these altered soils might also contribute to increase corticosterone levels of amphisbaenians, it would be difficult to find in our study area an enough large number of amphisbaenians living in soils with low eutrophication or high salinity with which to show clear relationships with GC levels.…”

“…The amphisbaenian T. wiegmanni is a Northwest African species found from Morocco to northeast Tunisia ( Bons and Geniez, 1996 ). Similarly to other amphisbaenians, the knowledge of its ecology is limited, but there are increasing knowledge on its habitat use ( Civantos et al , 2003 ; Martín et al , 2013a , 2021a ), diet and prey detection ( Bons and Saint Girons, 1963 ; Martín et al , 2013b ; López et al , 2014 ; Baeckens et al , 2017 ), thermal biology ( Gatten and McClung, 1981 ; López et al , 2002 ), reproduction ( Bons and Saint Girons, 1963 ) and population and social biology ( Martín et al , 2011a , b , 2012 , 2020 , 2021b ). This species is listed as of ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN in view of its wide distribution and ‘presumed’ large population ( Mateo et al , 2009 ).…”

Chemical Communication in Reptiles: Order Squamata

“…Likewise, an increase in the frequency of tongue oscillation was observed when in contact with soils with salinity levels. similar to those of their habitat than with those that had a greater amount of salts (Martín et al, 2021). The odor of the substrate can also modify the antipredatory response of amphisbaenids; Blanus cinereus in laboratory conditions showed greater activity and frequency of oscillation of the tongue when it was on unfamiliar substrates, compared to when it was kept on a substrate impregnated with its odor, where its mobility and oscillation frequency of the tongue significantly decreased.…”

“…Of the three suborders that make up the order Squamata, this one is definitely the least studied due to its fossorial habits, which makes it difficult to observe its behavior (Martín et al, 2021). Amphisbaenids can detect odors of conspecifics, aggregation behavior has been reported in Trogonophis wiegmanni, finding that adult females and males associate in pairs, as well as groups of juveniles, however, adult females and males do not associate with organisms of the same sex.…”

Chemical Communication in Reptiles of the Orders Testudines, Crocodrylia and Ryncochephalia

“…Chemoperception is one of the oldest mechanisms used by organisms to communicate and learn about their environment (Amo & Bonadonna, 2018). Chemical trails allow reptiles to select an appropriate habitat, since when odorants disperse in the environment it provides them with information about the presence of conspecifics or possible predators (Martín et al, 2021). Reptiles use chemical signals to evaluate characteristics such as sex, mating history, body and population condition (Richard et al, 2020).…”