Antipredator displays of the Cuban Groundlizard (Pholidoscelis auberi) on Little San Salvador Island (Half Moon Cay), The Bahamas, and a review of similar behavior in other lizards

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v31i1.22527

Keywords:

Pholidoscelis auberi, display, behavior, Squamata, Teiidae, Bahamas, Little San Salvador Island, Half Moon Cay, circumduction, antipredator display

Abstract

Antipredator behavior in the teiid lizard Pholidoscelis auberi is previously unreported. I observed an arm-waving display (AWD) and lateral undulation of the tail (LUT) in two P. auberi, an adult and a neonate, on Little San Salvador Island (Half Moon Cay), The Bahamas. Context indicated that these were antipredator behaviors. AWD was performed overhand (clockwise in right lateral view), with the elbow strongly flexed, and with one arm at a time. AWD is performed similarly in some other lizard species and differently in some others. AWD is previously unreported in P. auberi, and LUT is previously unreported in all but one other teiid species.

Metrics

File downloads
588
Aug 25 '24Aug 28 '24Aug 31 '24Sep 01 '24Sep 04 '24Sep 07 '24Sep 10 '24Sep 13 '24Sep 16 '24Sep 19 '24Sep 22 '248
|

Author Biography

  • Philip Senter, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA

    Philip J. Senter is a Professor of Zoology at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA.

Downloads

Published

2024-08-24

How to Cite

Senter, P. (2024). Antipredator displays of the Cuban Groundlizard (Pholidoscelis auberi) on Little San Salvador Island (Half Moon Cay), The Bahamas, and a review of similar behavior in other lizards. Reptiles & Amphibians, 31(1), e22527. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v31i1.22527