Why blue tongue? A potential UV-based deimatic display in a lizard

Badiane, Arnaud; Carazo, Pau; Price-Rees, Samantha J.; Ferrando-Bernal, Manuel; Whiting, Martin J.

doi:10.1007/s00265-018-2512-8

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…However, this same visual signal—the expression of UV colouration—may function as an anti‐predator strategy, such as deimatism. For example, the Northern Bluetongue skink ( Tiliqua scincoides intermedia ) reflects UV in their tongues (Badiane, Carazo, Price‐Rees, Ferrando‐Bernal, & Whiting, 2018). When faced by predators, these lizards open their mouths and expose their tongues, a display that is conjoined with a subset of aggressive behaviours (Badiane et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the Northern Bluetongue skink ( Tiliqua scincoides intermedia ) reflects UV in their tongues (Badiane, Carazo, Price‐Rees, Ferrando‐Bernal, & Whiting, 2018). When faced by predators, these lizards open their mouths and expose their tongues, a display that is conjoined with a subset of aggressive behaviours (Badiane et al, 2018). Behavioural signalling is also widely used in intraspecific animal communication in several contexts (Endler, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, behavioural displays can play key roles in intrasexual competition, conveying information on territory defence and fighting abilities to conspecifics: tail waving and coiling behaviour in the lizard Phrynocephalus vlanalii convey information on threat level in conspecific agonistic interactions (Qiu, Fu, & Qi, 2018). Thus, behavioural, visual (through colour expression), acoustic, chemical and even seismic signalling are all used in a number of animal communication contexts, both intraspecific and interspecific (e.g., Badiane et al, 2018; Elias, Mason, Maddison, & Hoy, 2003; Lisboa et al, 2017; Qiu et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the fact that chemical signalling is one of the oldest forms of communication in vertebrates (Steiger, Schmitt, & Schaefer, 2011), much remains to be explored regarding its importance and evolution in some groups, such as lizards. Investigations of reproductive and agonistic interactions in lizards have focused mostly on visual signalling (e.g., Badiane et al, 2018; Osborne, 2005; Sacchi et al, 2009; Stuart‐Fox, Moussalli, & Whiting, 2008; Whiting et al, 2006). Chemical signals in lizards are also known to play a key role, such as in Podarcis muralis where pheromones convey information about colour morph identity (Mangiacotti et al, 2019; Pellitteri‐Rosa et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical signalling behaviour in intrasexual communication of lizards lacking femoral pores

et al. 2020

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Signals that are used in animal communication may have multiple sensorial channels and functions. Animal communication integrates very distinct mechanisms such as behaviour, morphology and physiological secretions. Chemical signals occur in several contexts and are known to have a role in sexual selection. In many lizards, pheromones secreted through femoral pores are used to attract females and demark territory dominance. In lizard species without femoral pores, however, study of chemical signalling is negligible. Lizards of the genus Tropidurus have no ventral pores, but express melanic patches in their ventral thighs and cloacae (body regions linked to chemical communication in other lizards), which may play a role in both visual signalling and chemical signalling. Here, we describe the occurrence of pelvic rubbing—a chemical signalling behaviour—in two Tropidurus species, displayed in intraspecific agonistic intrasexual staged encounters. In addition, we compile a list of currently reported species that display this behaviour, checking for its social contexts and presence/absence of secretion pores. We analysed behaviours in conspecific trials between males of Tropidurus semitaeniatus and of T. hispidus during their breeding season. In T. semitaeniatus, displays of pelvic rubbing elicited aggressive responses from the opponents. Tropidurus hispidus, however, did not react to these conspecific displays. Pelvic rubbings were also partially linked to defecation in both species, which is likely due to secretions from internal urodeal glands expelled during defecation. Also, high rates of tongue flick behaviours during the encounters support the hypothesis that these lizards make use of chemical communication. Our observations corroborate previous suggestions that glandular scales—scales covered by generation glands produced at the epidermis across the lizards’ shedding cycles—are present in their melanic ventral patches. Our work also highlights the potential of characterizing such ventral patches as multimodal signalling badges. Further, we investigated the contexts in which pelvic rubbing is displayed adding to our understanding of the role played by chemical signalling in lizards without femoral pores.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical signalling behaviour in intrasexual communication of lizards lacking femoral pores

et al. 2020

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“…A larger number of circular muscle fibers, in turn, suggests a more effective ability to compress the m. hyoglossus bundles to decrease their diameter and increase their length. It is worth noting that T. scincoides and congeners evince other evidence of extensive hydrostatic tongue deformation in another context, that is, during their well‐known lingual display (Abramjan, Bauerová, Somerová, & Frynta, 2015; Badiane, Carazo, Price‐Rees, Ferrando‐Bernal, & Whiting, 2018; Carpenter & Murphy, 1978). The entire tongue is protruded beyond the mandibular margin, extended and widened as part of an anti‐predator startle (deimatic) display (Badiane et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The functional morphology of lingual prey capture in a scincid lizard, Tiliqua scincoides (Reptilia: Squamata)

Hewes

Schwenk

2020

Journal of Morphology

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We investigated the functional morphology of lingual prey capture in the bluetongued skink, Tiliqua scincoides, a lingual-feeding lizard nested deep within the family Scincidae, which is presumed to be dominated by jaw-feeding. We used kinematic analysis of high-speed video to characterize jaw and tongue movements during prey capture. Phylogenetically informed principal components analysis of tongue morphology showed that, compared to jaw-feeding scincids and lacertids, T. scincoides and another tongue-feeding scincid, Corucia zebrata, are distinct in ways suggesting an enhanced ability for hydrostatic shape change. Lingual feeding kinematics show substantial quantitative and qualitative variation among T. scincoides individuals. Highspeed video analysis showed that T. scincoides uses significant hydrostatic elongation and deformation during protrusion, tongue-prey contact, and retraction. A key feature of lingual prey capture in T. scincoides is extensive hydrostatic deformation to increase the area of tongue-prey contact, presumably to maximize wet adhesion of the prey item. Adhesion is mechanically reinforced during tongue retraction through formation of a distinctive "saddle" in the foretongue that supports the prey item, reducing the risk of prey loss during retraction.

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Sensory Systems

Crowe‐Riddell

Lillywhite²

2023

Health and Welfare of Captive Reptiles

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Why blue tongue? A potential UV-based deimatic display in a lizard

Cited by 19 publications

References 39 publications

Chemical signalling behaviour in intrasexual communication of lizards lacking femoral pores

Chemical signalling behaviour in intrasexual communication of lizards lacking femoral pores

The functional morphology of lingual prey capture in a scincid lizard, Tiliqua scincoides (Reptilia: Squamata)

Sensory Systems

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