Hindlimb Asymmetry Reduces Escape Performance in the Lizard Psammodromus algirus

2001 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 619-624 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Martín ◽  
Pilar López
Keyword(s):  
Escape Performance ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus

Escape Behaviour of Juvenile Psammodromus Algirus Lizards: Constraint of or Compensation for Limitations in Body Size?

Behaviour ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 132 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 181-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar López ◽  
José Martín
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Escape Response ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Escape Performance ◽  
Escape Behaviour ◽  
Approach Distance ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Short Flight

AbstractWe compared the escape behaviour of juvenile and adult Psammodromus algirus lizards, by using data of escape performance in the laboratory and field observations of escape behaviour. We specifically examined whether a differential escape response is a constraint of body size, or whether juveniles behave differently in order to maximize their escape possibilities taking into account their size-related speed limitations. In the laboratory, juvenile lizards were slower than adult lizards, and escaped during less time and to shorter distances, even when removing the effect of body size. In the field, juveniles allowed closer approaches and after a short flight usually did not hide immediately, but did so after successive short runs if the attack persists. Approach distance of juveniles was not affected by habitat, but initial and total flight distances were shorter in covered microhabitats. There was no significant effect of environmental temperature on approach and initial flight distances of juveniles. However, the total flight distances were significantly correlated with air temperatures.

Fleeing to unsafe refuges: effects of conspicuousness and refuge safety on the escape decisions of the lizard Psammodromus algirus

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Martín ◽  
Pilar López
Keyword(s):  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Flight Distance ◽  
Escape Performance ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Approach Distance ◽  
Optimal Distance ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus ◽  
Escape Decision ◽  
Escape Speed

Theoretical models of escape behavior suggest that the optimal distance at which an animal starts to flee (approach distance) increases with distance to the refuge. However, the extent of reliance on refuges may strongly affect this relationship. The lizard Psammodromus algirus escapes a predator by fleeing into leaf litter, which is very abundant but not a safe refuge because the predator could still locate and capture a concealed lizard. We test the hypothesis that escape decisions of this lizard species are based on the conspicuousness of individuals and the type of refuge used, rather than on the distance to cover per se. A field study showed that approach distance was not significantly correlated with distance to available refuges or distance actually fled. However, the type of microhabitat and the type of refuge used influenced the approach distance. Lizards started to flee earlier in microhabitats where they were presumably more visible to potential predators. Lizards ran to refuges that were similar in quality to, but farther from, the nearest available one. A longer flight may be needed to mislead the predator. However, because fleeing may be costly, the flight distance should be optimized. Thus, lizards ran farther and faster when they fled through unsafe microhabitats. Lizards with a low body temperature have lower escape performance and their approach distances should be greater. However, although air temperature affected escape speed, it was not significantly correlated with approach distance or flight distance. The relatively low reliance on refuges by P. algirus indicated that the expected relationship between escape decision and distance to the refuge did not exist. However, the results indicate that P. algirus optimizes its escape decisions according to the costs of fleeing and the costs of remaining.

scholarly journals Footedness predicts escape performance in a passerine bird

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 4251-4260
Author(s):  
Gaoyang Yu ◽  
Jinxin Guo ◽  
Wenqian Xie ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Yichen Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Escape Performance

Oxidative stress decreases with elevation in the lizard Psammodromus algirus

2014 ◽  
Vol 172 ◽  
pp. 52-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Senda Reguera ◽  
Francisco J. Zamora-Camacho ◽  
Cristina E. Trenzado ◽  
Ana Sanz ◽  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus

Feedback during exposure to inescapable shocks and subsequent shock-escape performance

1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R Volpicelli ◽  
Ronald R Ulm ◽  
Aidan Altenor
Keyword(s):  
Escape Performance ◽  
Shock Escape

scholarly journals Selection on escape performance during ecological speciation driven by predation

2017 ◽  
Vol 124 ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Swaegers ◽  
F. Strobbe ◽  
M.A. McPeek ◽  
R. Stoks
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Escape Performance

scholarly journals Feeding Ecology of Short-Toed Snake-Eagle (Circaetus gallicus [Gmelin, 1788]) in the Montados of Iberian Peninsula

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-179
Author(s):  
Nuno Onofre ◽  
Luís Sampaio
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Prey Type ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus ◽  
Circaetus Gallicus ◽  
Water Snakes

The diet of Short-toed Snake-eagle (Circaetus gallicus) during the breeding season in an area dominated by cork and holm oak parkland forests (Montados) was analyzed in this study. As expected, results showed that snakes are the dominant prey in the diet of this eagle, comprising up to 92.5% of the identified items, if potential secondary prey species were excluded. The Montpellier Snake (Malpolon monspessulanus) was the most consumed one (42.2%), followed by the Ladder Snake (Zamenis scalaris) (28.0%), and the water snakes (Natrix spp.) (14.2%). According to the same criteria, lizards (mainly Psammodromus algirus) and mammals represent between 4.8 and 2.2%, respectively. Other animals such as pond turtle and amphibians are irregular prey (<1%), and no bird remains were found at all. Short-toed Snake-eagle is usually referred as a stenophagic predator where snakes are by far its most important prey type, and where within this taxonomic group it behaves as a generalist predator. In this study this premise was then tested comparing the relative abundance of the snake species with their proportion in the diet composition of the eagle in order to know whether or not prey selection exists with regard to the species of snakes in this region. Results point to a quite plausible "preference" for the Ladder Snake and an "avoidance" for the smooth snakes group (Macroprotodon brevis/Coronella girondica), and possibly for the Horseshoe Whip (Hemorrhois hippocrepis). The avoidance to the Horseshoe Whip must be indirect and habitat related, while in relation to the two smooth snakes it may be due in large extend to its small size, in particular.

scholarly journals Catálogo comentado de la colección herpetológica procedente de Marruecos del Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Madrid, España), con énfasis en el material colectado durante expediciones históricas

Graellsia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 071
Author(s):  
Alberto Sánchez-Vialas ◽  
Marta Calvo-Revuelta
Keyword(s):  
Rana Ridibunda ◽  
Psammodromus Algirus

Se presenta el catálogo de los anfibios y reptiles de Marruecos conservados en el Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales de Madrid (MNCN-CSIC) y se destaca la especial relevancia de las contribuciones realizadas por dos expediciones históricas para el conocimiento herpetológico de la región. Ambas expediciones sumaron un total de 31 especies colectadas principalmente en las regiones de Essaouira, Tánger y Ketama. Se constata la presencia en la colección de los ejemplares que representaron las primeras citas de Cerastes vipera y Scincus albifasciatus en Marruecos. Asimismo, alberga las series tipo de Rana ridibunda riodeoroi, Psammodromus algirus ketamensis y Salamandra algira tingitana. Los especímenes colectados en tiempos históricos conservados en colecciones científicas ofrecen una valiosa información para identificar cambios sufridos por las comunidades biológicas y diseñar medidas de conservación de la biodiversidad.

Escape performance in the sub-Antarctic notothenioid fish Eleginops maclovinus

Polar Biology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 914-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Fernández ◽  
J. Calvo ◽  
J. Wakeling ◽  
F. Vanella ◽  
I. Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Escape Performance ◽  
Notothenioid Fish ◽  
Eleginops Maclovinus
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