Experimental assessment of Spot-tailed Earless Lizards (Holbrookia lacerata and H. subcaudalis) as visual predators

Authors

  • E. Drake Rangel Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas, USA
  • Scott E. Henke Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, Texas, USA
  • Cord B. Eversole Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v33i1.22980

Abstract

Plateau Spot-tailed Earless Lizards (Holbrookia lacerata) and Tamaulipan Spot-tailed Earless Lizards (H.
subcaudalis) (hereafter STELs) are phrynosomatid lizards that are species of conservation concern. STELs are insectivores
and are thought to be visual predators, but predation strategies have not been empirically documented. We randomly
assigned 15 Plateau and 15 Tamaulipan STELs to one of three predation-behavior treatments: (1) live cricket,
(2) dead cricket glued to monofilament line and moved, or (3) dead crickets. Both STEL species attacked only moving
crickets, clearly demonstrating that STELs are visual predators. This has important conservation implications because
STELs frequently occupy peripheries of agricultural fields, where pesticides often are used; consequently, feeding on
immobile prey, particularly insects, could have negative consequences for these imperiled lizards.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-07

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 1 (2026): Reptiles & Amphibians

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 E. Drake Rangel, Scott E. Henke, Cord B. Eversole

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Copyright is held by the authors. Articles in R&A are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.

How to Cite

Rangel, E. D., Henke, S. E., & Eversole, C. B. (2026). Experimental assessment of Spot-tailed Earless Lizards (Holbrookia lacerata and H. subcaudalis) as visual predators. Reptiles & Amphibians, 33(1), e22980. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v33i1.22980