Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae)
It has been suggested that gymnophthalmids, like most semi-fossorial lacertoids, rely more in chemical cues to communicate, in comparison to other groups, like Iguanids, on which communication is mostly based on visual signaling. We present the first description of visual signaling in the Andean liz...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3022 |
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| author | Franco Poma-Soto Andrea E. Narváez Andrés Romero-Carvajal |
| author_facet | Franco Poma-Soto Andrea E. Narváez Andrés Romero-Carvajal |
| author_sort | Franco Poma-Soto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It has been suggested that gymnophthalmids, like most semi-fossorial lacertoids, rely more in chemical cues to communicate, in comparison to other groups, like Iguanids, on which communication is mostly based on visual signaling. We present the first description of visual signaling in the Andean lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i><i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) and a complete ethogram based on ex situ observations (34 different types of behaviors including positions and simple movements). Through the design of conspecific stimulus experiments, we were able to recognize leg-waving as a visual signal, as it is only displayed in presence of conspecifics or in presence of a mirror and was one of first and most frequent displays in this context. We also detected other visual displays like neck-arching and tail-undulation which may also be relevant as visual signals. Based on our results, we propose that visual signaling is also possible in semi-fossorial lizards; however, further studies regarding chemical signal recognition and color detection are required to confirm our hypothesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:46:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ebef567d2c8443aa89860a6e3dad12d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:46:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ebef567d2c8443aa89860a6e3dad12d2023-11-22T22:05:20ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-10-011111302210.3390/ani11113022Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae)Franco Poma-Soto0Andrea E. Narváez1Andrés Romero-Carvajal2Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, EcuadorFundacion Great Leaf, De las Azucenas N47-60 y Av. Eloy Alfaro, Quito 170503, EcuadorEscuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito 170525, EcuadorIt has been suggested that gymnophthalmids, like most semi-fossorial lacertoids, rely more in chemical cues to communicate, in comparison to other groups, like Iguanids, on which communication is mostly based on visual signaling. We present the first description of visual signaling in the Andean lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i><i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) and a complete ethogram based on ex situ observations (34 different types of behaviors including positions and simple movements). Through the design of conspecific stimulus experiments, we were able to recognize leg-waving as a visual signal, as it is only displayed in presence of conspecifics or in presence of a mirror and was one of first and most frequent displays in this context. We also detected other visual displays like neck-arching and tail-undulation which may also be relevant as visual signals. Based on our results, we propose that visual signaling is also possible in semi-fossorial lizards; however, further studies regarding chemical signal recognition and color detection are required to confirm our hypothesis.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3022<i>Pholidobolus</i>lizardbehaviorvisual signaling |
| spellingShingle | Franco Poma-Soto Andrea E. Narváez Andrés Romero-Carvajal Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) Animals <i>Pholidobolus</i> lizard behavior visual signaling |
| title | Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) |
| title_full | Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) |
| title_fullStr | Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) |
| title_short | Visual Signaling in the Semi-Fossorial Lizard <i>Pholidobolus</i> <i>montium</i> (Gymnophthalmidae) |
| title_sort | visual signaling in the semi fossorial lizard i pholidobolus i i montium i gymnophthalmidae |
| topic | <i>Pholidobolus</i> lizard behavior visual signaling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3022 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT francopomasoto visualsignalinginthesemifossoriallizardipholidobolusiimontiumigymnophthalmidae AT andreaenarvaez visualsignalinginthesemifossoriallizardipholidobolusiimontiumigymnophthalmidae AT andresromerocarvajal visualsignalinginthesemifossoriallizardipholidobolusiimontiumigymnophthalmidae |