Role of colouration in antipredator strategies of <i>Pristidactylus achalensis (Squamata: Leiosauridae) related to sex and predatory stages

TORRES, MARIA DEL MILAGRO; VILADRICH, LEONEL JEREMIAS; NARETTO, SERGIO

BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Año: 2021

0024-4066

The interaction between behavioural and phenotypic traits, such as colouration, plays a specific role at different stages of the predatory sequence. Crypsis is one of these dynamic phenomena aimed at preventing prey detection by predators that is optimised with immobility behaviour. Moreover, sexual dichromatism and changes of colour can make lizards more cryptic or more conspicuous thus influencing antipredator behaviours and fleeing decisions. Here, we examined the variations in colouration and antipredator behaviour between the sexes of Achala copper lizard (Pristidactylus achalensis). We measured sexual dichromatism and crypsis according to avian vision. We also exposed lizards to a raptor dummy to assess the colour change and behaviour at the detection and approach stages of the predatory event. Finally, we tested the escape behaviour in the natural habitat. We found that males were more conspicuous than females. Additionaly, individuals showed distinct behaviours at different stages of the predation simulation, but there were no differences between the sexes. However, in the natural habitat males initiated flight at greater distances than females which might be related to their more conspicuous colouration. In summary, this study shows how crypsis differences between the sexes affect escape behaviour during the approach stage of predation