Death-feigning behaviour in Iphisa elegans: the second reported case in the Family Gymnophthalmidae (Reptilia: Squamata)



Document title: Death-feigning behaviour in Iphisa elegans: the second reported case in the Family Gymnophthalmidae (Reptilia: Squamata)
Journal: Acta amazonica
Database: PERIÓDICA
System number: 000417743
ISSN: 0044-5967
Authors: 1
2
3
Institutions: 1Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquita Filho", Instituto de Biociencias, Rio Claro, Sao Paulo. Brasil
2Instituto Pro Terra, Jau, Sao Paulo. Brasil
3Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio de Mesquita Filho", Faculdade de Ciencias, Bauru, Sao Paulo. Brasil
Year:
Season: Jun
Volumen: 48
Number: 2
Pages: 151-153
Country: Brasil
Language: Inglés
Document type: Artículo
Approach: Analítico
English abstract Death-feigning behaviour occurs when the animal simulates a state of immobility. This behaviour is described for some lizard families, among them the family Gymnophthalmidae with only one record. Iphisa elegans is a diurnal and terrestrial Amazonian lizard, it has cryptic behavior and moves rapidly on the ground, hindering observations of its behavior. We report a case at the Comodoro Municipality, Mato Grosso State, Brazil: an adult male of I. elegans, when manipulated, turned its venter up and put itself in a death-feigning posture. This species is preyed by birds, snakes and other lizards¸ possibly behaving this way when the cryptic behaviour or scape attempt fails. More studies are necessary to observe the efficiency of this behaviour, as well as the frequency that it occurs, using individuals of both sexes. We also suggested to evaluate if the orange venter of males could have any antipredation advantage
Disciplines: Biología
Keyword: Anfibios y reptiles,
Etología,
Ecología,
Reptiles,
Iphisa elegans,
Comportamiento críptico,
Antidepredador,
Postura corporal,
Simulación de muerte,
Lagartos
Keyword: Amphibians and reptiles,
Ethology,
Ecology,
Reptiles,
Iphisa elegans,
Cryptic behavior,
Antipredatory,
Body position,
Death simulation,
Lizards
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