Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia

Background: Caudal autotomy appears to be an adaptation strategy to reduce the risk of being preyed upon. In an encounter with a predator, the prey must reduce the risk of being preyed upon, and one of the strategies that has exerted a strong pressure on selection has been tail loss. In lizards, it...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Domínguez López, Moisés E., Ortega León, Ángela M, Zamora Abrego, Gastón J
Formato:	Articulo
Lenguaje:	Inglés
Publicado:	2015
Materias:	Zoología Caudal autotomy Escape behavior G. albogularis Predation
Acceso en línea:	http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/86644
Aporte de:	SEDICI (UNLP) de Universidad Nacional de La Plata

id	I19-R120-10915-86644
record_format	dspace
institution	Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str	I-19
repository_str	R-120
collection	SEDICI (UNLP)
language	Inglés
topic	Zoología Caudal autotomy Escape behavior G. albogularis Predation
spellingShingle	Zoología Caudal autotomy Escape behavior G. albogularis Predation Domínguez López, Moisés E. Ortega León, Ángela M Zamora Abrego, Gastón J Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia
topic_facet	Zoología Caudal autotomy Escape behavior G. albogularis Predation
description	Background: Caudal autotomy appears to be an adaptation strategy to reduce the risk of being preyed upon. In an encounter with a predator, the prey must reduce the risk of being preyed upon, and one of the strategies that has exerted a strong pressure on selection has been tail loss. In lizards, it has been demonstrated that tail loss reduces the probability of survival in the event of a second attack; therefore, they must resort to new escape strategies to reduce the risk of falling prey. In order to evaluate the effect of tail loss on the escape behavior of Gonatodes albogularis in natural conditions, we took samples from a forest interior population. We expected that individuals that had not lost their tails would allow the predator to get closer than those that had lost it. For each sample, we recorded the following: (1) escape behavior, measured through three distances (e.g., approach distance, escape distance, and final distance); (2) distance to shelter; and (3) length of tail. We included only males in the study since we did not record any females without a tail and far fewer with a regenerated tail. Results: We found that tail loss does have an effect on the escape behavior of G. albogularis. Males that have their tails intact allow the predator to come closer, and we found a negative correlation between the approach distance and the length of the tail. Conclusion: Our results support the escape behavior theory, in which G. albogularis males drop their tails when the risk of predation is much higher than the cost of fleeing.
format	Articulo Articulo
author	Domínguez López, Moisés E. Ortega León, Ángela M Zamora Abrego, Gastón J
author_facet	Domínguez López, Moisés E. Ortega León, Ángela M Zamora Abrego, Gastón J
author_sort	Domínguez López, Moisés E.
title	Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia
title_short	Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia
title_full	Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia
title_fullStr	Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia
title_full_unstemmed	Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia
title_sort	tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard gonatodes albogularis (squamata: sphaerodactylidae), from córdoba, colombia
publishDate	2015
url	http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/86644
work_keys_str_mv	AT dominguezlopezmoisese tailautotomyeffectsontheescapebehaviorofthelizardgonatodesalbogularissquamatasphaerodactylidaefromcordobacolombia AT ortegaleonangelam tailautotomyeffectsontheescapebehaviorofthelizardgonatodesalbogularissquamatasphaerodactylidaefromcordobacolombia AT zamoraabregogastonj tailautotomyeffectsontheescapebehaviorofthelizardgonatodesalbogularissquamatasphaerodactylidaefromcordobacolombia
bdutipo_str	Repositorios
_version_	1764820489126019074

Tail autotomy effects on the escape behavior of the lizard Gonatodes albogularis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae), from Córdoba, Colombia

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