Antipredator Responses of Anolis cristatellus (Sauria: Polychrotidae)

Abstract

responses during encounters with its natural predatory snake Alsophis portoricensis: flight, immobility, body thrashing, biting, dewlapping, tail lashing, tonguebunch, head-bobbing, lateral body compression, lateral face-off, pushups, crouching, and tail autotomy. Alsophis portoricensis subduing time of Anolis cristatellus increased linearly with time the lizard spent biting the snake. Some of the behaviors (dewlapping, head-bobbing, lateral body compression, lateral face-off, pushups, and tongue-bunch) exhibited by A. cristatellus during predation episodes are also used by these lizards during social interactions. We propose, then, that all these behaviors be considered multipurpose behaviors of A. cristatellus.