Microhabitat use and selection by <i>Pristidactylus scapulatus</i> (Squamata Leiosauridae) in the Puna region of the Central Andes in Argentina

Ovallez, Franco M. Valdez; Erostarbe, Ana E. Victorica; Cocilio, Rodrigo Nieva; Alés, Rodrigo Gómez; Fernandez, Ruben; Acosta, Rodrigo; Blanco, Graciela; Acosta, Juan Carlos; Corrales, Lucas

doi:10.1080/03949370.2022.2120085

Cited by 1 publication

(3 citation statements)

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“…Table 4 shows the available information on the hiss characteristics of three species, revealing that the most closely related taxa, P. valeriae and P. volcanensis, differed in these characteristics and that the hisses of the latter species are more similar in frequency range and duration to those of the Argentine species, P. scapulatus. We can rule out that these results are a consequence of adults' body size differences since both native species from Chile are smaller but similar in size: P. volcanensis 84-96 mm [26], P. valeriae 70-91 mm (present study), than P. scapulatus 105 mm [64]. Habitat structure may modulate these spectro-temporal differences, considering that P. volcanensis and P. scapulatus inhabit open rocky areas with scrubs [26,64], while P. valeriae inhabits more closed habitats, such as Nothofagus forests [24].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

“…We can rule out that these results are a consequence of adults' body size differences since both native species from Chile are smaller but similar in size: P. volcanensis 84-96 mm [26], P. valeriae 70-91 mm (present study), than P. scapulatus 105 mm [64]. Habitat structure may modulate these spectro-temporal differences, considering that P. volcanensis and P. scapulatus inhabit open rocky areas with scrubs [26,64], while P. valeriae inhabits more closed habitats, such as Nothofagus forests [24]. However, based on the acoustic adaptation hypothesis [65], opposite results would be expected, i.e., lower peak frequencies, longer duration, and a narrower frequency range in closed than open environments.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

“…The Leiosauridae family includes 35 species, separated into two subfamilies, Enyaliinae and Leiosaurinae, with Pristidactylus belonging to the latter [70]. Data indicate hiss production under predation risk in the three Leiosaurinae genera, in eight of the eighteen species of the subfamily ( [11,20,64], present study). In the case of the Enyaliinae, there is a report for only one of the two genera, including one of the 17 species of this subfamily [71].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

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Exploring Sound Emission of the Lizard Pristidactylus valeriae

Díaz,

Labra

2023

Animals

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Lizards, except geckos, are generally considered voiceless organisms, although some species emit oral sounds. For most of these “vocal lizards”, however, there is almost no information on the characteristics of the sounds, precluding exploration of the functionality and evolution of the sounds. Pristidactylus are known as “grunter lizards” since individuals emit oral sounds under predation risk. We explored the characteristics of the sounds emitted by P. valeriae, recording 17 adults and 1 juvenile when they were threatened and captured by a predator. Only adults emitted sounds with open mouths and displayed aggressive postures, e.g., biting attempts. These sounds correspond to hisses, which lack amplitude or frequency modulation. The lizards emitted longer hisses when threatened than when captured by the predator, which may provide honest information on individuals’ ability to escape. In addition, males may experience higher distress during threats since their hisses had higher aggregate entropy than those of the females. Finally, hissing has been documented in four of the five Leiosauridae genera, the family to which Pristidactylus belongs, suggesting that sound emission is ancestral to the family.

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