Open AccessFlight initiation distance of Urosaurus ornatus from the Sierra de Samalayuca, Mexico
Author(s) -
Julio A. Lemos-Espínal,
Geoffrey R. Smith
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
acta herpetologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.334
H-Index - 15
eISSN - 1827-9643
pISSN - 1827-9635
DOI - 10.36253/a_h-9843
Subject(s) - predator , population , dorsum , predation , zoology , biology , ecology , anatomy , demography , sociology
In lizards, flight initiation distance (FID), the distance between a prey individual and a predator when escape begins, can be affected by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including sex, temperature, and level of conspicuousness. Here we report on a study of FID in a population of Ornate Tree Lizards, Urosaurus ornatus, from the Sierra de Samalyuca, Chihuahua, Mexico which are cryptic due to their dorsal coloration blending into their background. Urosaurus ornatus in our study population allowed close approaches (mean FID = 65 cm). Mean FID did not differ between males and females. We also found no effect of body, air, or substrate temperature on FID. The short FID we observed may be related to the cryptic nature of U. ornatus.