Habituating to predators or fleeing and hiding are tactics that vary between species. Scientists from two research centres in Italy and Spain have observed that adult male common wall lizards sharing their living spaces with humans become accustomed to them and hide less when humans approach them. Yellow lizards were the most "daring."
Humans have an increasing presence in different species' natural habitats. For this reason, scientists are investing much time in studying wild animals' capacity to tolerate these disturbances. Lizards are an appropriate model for research into this subject, as they can be found in high densities in many environments and are relatively easy to observe in the field and handle in laboratories.
Scientists from the Eco-Ethology group of the University of Pavia (Italy) and the National Museum of Natural History (CSIC) in Spain used the lizards to analyse their reactions to attacks by human predators and the strategies they adopt, depending on the local risk level. To do this, they simulated human attacks on two populations in completely different settings: rural and urban habitats.
"The species we used in the study was the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). The main aim was to detect the possible influence of urbanisation on their antipredator response in terms of activity, time spent hidden in refuges after attacks and habituation to predators after repeated attacks," Sinc was told by Jose Martín of the Spanish National Museum of Natural History and co-author of the paper, published in the journal Animal Behaviour.
The findings show that urban lizards spend less time in their refuges following simulations of predator attacks and that the become habituated, as their successive hiding times decreased faster than those of the rural lizards. This detail suggests different levels of caution against potential predators. "The study has important implications for our understanding of humans' effect on animal populations and animals' resp
The explanation for this is that for prey, the majority of humans they come across represent "ineffective, dangerous predators" that rarely attack and are easily escaped from with low-intensity, low-cost antipredator responses. In this way, they save themselves always having to respond with high-intensity antipredator strategies, which can be very costly in terms of lost time and energy.
Red lizards cower when threatened
As this species displays polychromatism (there are individuals with yellow, red and white bellies), which has an important role for the species, the researchers also took individual colouration into consideration in the study.
"Independently of whether the population was rural or urban, yellow lizards gradually decreased the time they spent in their refuges compared to the other two morphs," Martín explained. "On the other hand, red lizards progressively spent longer periods before emerging from their refuges after successive tests, suggesting growing sensitisation to potential attacks by predators."
Previous studies had found differences between differently coloured lizards in terms of stress and haematological profiles, for instance, as well as in immune response, female reproductive strategies and males' chemical signals.
"By using a lizard species as a model, we shed light on two key points of evolutionary ecology, concerning both antipredator response optimisation and factors enabling polymorphism to be maintained," the researcher concluded.
FAQs
Summary: Habituating to predators or fleeing and hiding are tactics that vary between species. Scientists have observed that adult male common wall lizards sharing their living spaces with humans become accustomed to them and hide less when humans approach them.
How are lizards affected by humans? ›
The growth of human communities and its effects on natural habitats are taking a toll on our lizards. Threats to lizards include habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, predation, overexploitation, and climate change. The good news is that most of these concerns have solutions.
Why do lizards run away from humans? ›
They seem to be afraid of humans; they will run away from predators if they feel threatened. One way to manage your phobia is to take action to ensure your home is not attractive to lizards. Firstly, ensure home is free from water and moisture and all pests including lizards require fluids to keep surviving.
Do lizards get used to people? ›
It's probably safe to say that these guys aren't as emotional as other animals, such as dogs, cats, and birds but there's really no way to say for sure. That said, reptiles actually can and do get quite attached to their humans.
How do lizards adapt to their environment? ›
Because lizards are cold-blooded, they use the sun to warm up when it is cold. After a cold night in the desert or a cloudy day in the forest, lizards bask, or lie still in the sun. This behavior helps the lizards warm up their body by absorbing the sun's heat. Who knew lizards were expert sun bathers?
What happens if a lizard gets on you? ›
A lizard falling on your right arm signifies you will rise in society or have a sensual adventure ahead of you, whereas a lizard falling on your left arm implies you will lose money. When the lizard appears on the right side of a man's body and the left side of a woman's body, it is regarded lucky.
What happens if lizard touches us? ›
Some Common Lizard Falling Effects
Lizard touches the fingers on the left hand leads to worries. Lizard on right hand male brings favorable news. If it falls on the left hand, it brings unfavorable news. A lizard drop on head indicates the person will be blessed with wealth, royalty with luxurious life.
What do lizards hate the most? ›
Things like hot sauce, pepper, and cayenne emit a strong smell that deters lizards. For best results, mix a few tablespoons of your pepper of choice with a pint of warm water. Shake the mixture well and spray it in the corners of your home, and outside, along access points like doors and windows.
What are lizards scared of? ›
Another thing that lizards despise is the pungent smell of garlic and onion. Keep a few cloves of raw garlic or slices of onion in various corners of your home. Over time, the odour will shoo away the lizards.
Do lizards remember humans? ›
Lizards Do Really Learn To Recognize People. Claire Bowles, New Scientist, June 30, 1999 . Despite their cold-blooded demeanor, lizards can form personal relationships with people. A team of scientists has shown that iguanas recognize their human handlers and greet them differently, compared with strangers.
Lizards actually can be quite affectionate. Many appear to enjoy cuddling or sitting on their humans, and some even become lap lizards. However, some of these tiny dinosaurs only feel comfortable being handled or petted by their owners. Don't expect too much from a strange reptile.
Do lizards come near humans while sleeping? ›
It's not looking for you, and if you're asleep in the room, it's most likely to avoid you.
What feelings do lizards have? ›
We found that reptiles were assumed to be capable of the following emotions and states; anxiety, distress, excitement, fear, frustration, pain, stress, and suffering, in 37 articles. We also found four articles that explored and found evidence for the capacity of reptiles to feel pleasure, emotion, and anxiety.
What are 5 facts about lizards? ›
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- Some lizards can detach their tails if caught by surprise. ...
- Lizards live almost everywhere! ...
- Some species of lizard will go their entire lives without drinking water. ...
- While most lizards are not dangerous to be around, there are a few exceptions to this rule. ...
- Lizards can change color at will.
Lizards have conical or bladelike bicuspid or tricuspid teeth. Some species have conical teeth at the front of the jaws and cuspid teeth toward the rear, but the latter are not comparable to the molars of mammals in either form or function. (They are neither flat-crowned nor used to grind food.)
How long do lizards live? ›
Lizard Lifespan
The lifespan of a Lizard depends on the species of Lizards. Geckos survive for about 10-15 years in a typical home, the Chameleons are known to survive for around 5-7 years, the Iguanas survive for about 20 years, and the Komodo Dragons, the biggest of the reptiles, live for an average of 40 years.
How do humans impact reptiles? ›
Reptiles have been hunted and traded by humans throughout history, particularly as food. Still today, reptiles can provide an important protein source for many people, or may be sold as a luxury food. Some reptiles are even used in traditional medicines.
Do lizards stay away from humans? ›
They are naturally shy and would rather stay away from humans. Like most wild animals, they do not attack unless provoked. As long as you keep your distance and leave them alone, you will be fine.
What dangers do lizards face? ›
Historic and current threats include:
- predation or smuggling by humans.
- predation by introduced species.
- habitat loss.
- disease.
- pollution.
- climate change.
- increased UVB radiation.
