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© 1998 International Society for Behavioral Ecology

research-article

Enhanced vigilance in monogamous pairs of the lizard, Tiliqua rugosa

C. M. Bull and Y. Pamula

School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia

Address correspondence to C. M. Bull E-mail: michael.bull{at}cc.flinders.edu.au

ABSTRACT

The Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, forms monogamous pairs for up to 8 weeks each spring before mating. We observed that males had food in their mouths significantly less often when they were in pain than when they were alone. Females had food in the mouth independent of the presence or absence of males. Among females that had been feeding, indicated by food in the mouth, we observed them feeding, as we approached, less often when they were in pairs than when they were alone. Among females in pairs with food in their mouths, we observed them feeding less often when their male partners were not feeding than when their partners were feeding. This suggests that females are alerted to approaching danger earlier when they are in a pair, and alerted earlier in a pair when their male partner is not feeding. Enhanced vigilance may be one function of pairing behavior.

Key words: lizards, monogamy, vigilance, sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugusa.


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Home page
 Behav EcolHome page
G. D. Kerr and C. M. Bull
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Behav. Ecol., May 1, 2006; 17(3): 380 - 391.
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