Effects of body temperature on initial bite force in three species of rock- and crevice-dwelling lizards from Mexico

Animal communication depends on signals conveying information to a receiver who must perceive and decode them. Signals involved in territoriality are usually complex stimuli that should be correctly interpreted to avoid unnecessary conflicts. Lacertids use both visual and chemical stimuli in modulating their aggressive response against conspecifics and the rival’s size is one of the most important information, affecting the success probability in combat. To assess the actual ability of decoding information about a rival’s size based on its chemical stimulus alone, 60 males of Podarcis muralis were tested for three consecutive days in an arena bearing a mirror (to simulate an equal-sized intruder), and the chemical cues (femoral secretions) from an unknown individual of different size. Significant differences were observed in tongue-flicks number, which grew as the size difference between the focal lizard and the secretion donor decreased. This can be interpreted as the need for the lizard to better evaluate the potential competitor’s characteristics. The size difference also affected the number of bites against the mirror. They increased when the size of the focal lizard was larger than the donor triggering the aggressive response with a higher probability of winning the contest. This confirms that the focal lizard had correctly decoded the information about the opponent’s size by chemical stimulus. Although previous studies have shown that some components of the chemical signals are potentially informative about the signaler’s size, this is the first demonstration that male P. muralis is actually able to decode and use such information.

show abstract

Direct fire-induced reptile mortality in the Sierra Morelos natural protected area (Mexico)

González-Fernández,

Couturier,

Dotor-Diego

et al. 2024

Herpetozoa

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Little is known about fire as an agent of direct animal mortality, and specifically, there is controversy regarding the effects of fire on reptiles. In the Sierra Morelos natural protected area in Mexico, both unplanned (e.g., man-made illegal and accidental burns) and prescribed burns occur during the dry season. In this study, we assessed direct fire-induced reptile mortality in the Sierra Morelos natural protected area by comparing live and dead individuals. Of the 14 reptile species reported in the area, seven were found dead due to fire. One-third of the individuals found in 2021 (34% of 169 ind.) and 2022 (33% of 33 ind.) were killed by fire. The mean density of detected dead individuals was 1.60 ± 2.99 individuals/ha in 2021 and 0.31 ± 0.27 individuals/ha in 2022. Mortality densities were similar in areas subjected to prescribed burns and in areas affected by unplanned burns (W= 37.5, p = 0.4383). Since our survey likely underestimated the actual mortality caused by fire, our findings show the important direct impact of fire on the reptile community of the Sierra Morelos natural protected area and support the notion that anthropogenic fire can represent a serious risk for reptiles in fragile ecosystems.

show abstract

Effects of body temperature on initial bite force in three species of rock- and crevice-dwelling lizards from Mexico

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Reptiles as Paleoenvironmental Proxies and Their Association with the Climate

Reptiles as Paleoenvironmental Proxies and Their Association with the Climate

The size of a smell: assessment of rival’s relative size from femoral secretions in the common wall lizards,Podarcis muralis(Laurenti, 1768)

Direct fire-induced reptile mortality in the Sierra Morelos natural protected area (Mexico)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About