Lizard behaviors

Rapid movement away from the opposing lizard or a potential predator, followed by entry into some hiding place in the territory.

Movement away from the opposing lizard or a potential predator, not followed hiding in a safe place.

Absence of change in posture and/or position of the resident lizard in response to the presence of an opponent in its territory.

Rapid horizontal or oblique movement of the head, not accompanied by movement of the rest of the body. It is a very frequent behavior to identify potential invaders, prey or predators.

Quick movement of the tongue out and then into the mouth. It works primarily for the reception of chemical stimuli from the external environment.

Tongue movement outwards and then into the mouth, with the tongue quickly touching some portion of the substrate. Behavior performed in different situations, especially after prey ingestion.

One side of the mouth is quickly scraped against a hard substrate.

Rapid vertical movement of raising and lowering the head, which is repeated a number of times and ended with the return of the head to the initial position. It may or may not be accompanied by movement of the forelegs and gular extension.

Two to five sets of rapid, rhythmic flexions and extensions of the lizard's forelimbs interspersed with a few seconds of immobility.

Lowering and expansion of the volume of the gular appendix (inflation) by the action of elements of the hyoid musculature.

Extension of the front and back legs. Head and tail are usually raised. This body arching makes the lizard appear larger, which can result in an intimidating effect on the opponent.

Quick postural adjustment of the body, in order to position the longitudinal axis parallel to the opponent's axis. This lateralized presentation expands the field of vision of the resident lizard in relation to the intruder.

Quick flexion of the back legs, boosting the whole body towards an opponent or prey. During the jump all four legs temporarily lose contact with the substrate.

Sinusoidal movement involving all or just the tip of the tail, which is kept in a horizontal position, just above the substrate.

Displacement towards the opposing lizard, followed or not by aggressive visual displays.

Rapid movement towards the opposing lizard, which immediately starts exhibiting evasive behavior (escape or retreat).

Tongue movement outward and then into the mouth, with the tongue quickly touching some part of the opposing lizard.

Rapid movement towards the opposing lizard, followed by successive attempts to bite and/or push it, which may or may not be retaliated by the opponent.

Apprehension movement of the opposing lizard, mainly through the head region, through the opening and fast closing of the jaw.

Direct and vigorous confrontation between two lizards, involving the mutual performance of biting, shoving, and/or slapping with the tail

The female keeps her legs rigid, lowers her head a little, raises her tail and arches her hindquarters. Sometimes female swing the tip of the tail and perform head nod, push-ups, or dewlap.

EATING

Tropidurus hispidus eats some plants (predominantly flowers), small vertebrates (amphibian larvae) and mainly arthropods (ants, termites, beetles).