Feeding Behavior and the Occurrence of Caudal Luring in Burton's Pygopodid Lialis burtonis (Sauria: Pygopodidae)

• Published in: Copeia Vol. 1991; no. 2; pp. 509 - 516
• Main Authors: Murray, B. A., Bradshaw, S. D., Edward, D. H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists 16-05-1991
• Subjects: Amphibia and reptilia; Animal ethology; Animal feeding behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Food; Food movements; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Head; Jaw; Lizards; Predators; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Skinks; Snakes; Vertebrata; Vipers; Australia; Oceania; Predator prey relation; Vertebrata; Feeding behavior; Sauria; Tail; Lure; Reptilia
• DOI: 10.2307/1446599
• EISSN: 1938-5110
• ISSN: 0045-8511

Species of the genus Lialis are 'sit-and-wait' predators. However, an important behavioral modification was revealed in this study; initial prey escape triggered caudal luring tactics in Lialis burtonis for the recapture attempts of nearly 88% of the escaped prey. The behavior of L. burtonis in all trials involving caudal movements suggests that the movement is used both as an attractive (i.e., "lure") and as a distractive device. It is believed that the caudal movements are a normal, but occasional, part of the feeding sequence of L. burtonis. Caudal luring is described for the first time in a pygopodid, and appears to be very rare amongst lizards. The occurrence of caudal luring in L. burtonis can be interpreted as yet another example of convergent evolution between these pygopodids and snakes.