Liolaemus lizards

We can conclude that Liolaemus lizards use chemosignals extensively, and that they can extract substantial information about the sender from its chemosignals. 

Escobar, C. A., Labra, A. and Niemeyer, H. M. (2001) Chemical composition of precloacal secretions of Liolaemus lizards. J. Chem. Ecol. 27, 1677-1690. 

Jaksic, F. M., Nunez, H. and Ojeda, F. P. (1980) Body proportions, microhabitat selection, and adaptive radiation of Liolaemus lizards in central Chile. Oecologia 45, 178-181. 

Lamborot, M. and Alvarez-Sarret, E. (1989) Karyotypic characterization of some Liolaemus lizards in Chile (Iguanidae). Genome 32, 393-403. 

Martins, M. P., Labra, A., Halloy, M. and Thompson, J. T. (2004) Repeated large scale patterns of signal evolution an interspecific study of Liolaemus lizards headbob displays. Anim. Behav. 68, 453-463. 

It is unknown which compounds are involved in Liolaemus communication. However, information available from the chemical composition of the lipidic fraction of the precloacal secretions suggests that individuals, populations and species can be discriminated by the chemical profile of these secretions (Escobar, Escobar, Labra and Niemeyer 2003 Escobar, Labra and Niemeyer 2001). This, in addition to probable chemical differences in the other sources of chemosignals, may allow individual, population and species recognition (Labra et al. 2001). Based on the individual variation observed in the composition of the secretions of L. bellii (Escobar et al. 2001), it is likely that lizards can achieve self-recognition, and also that they can extract detailed information about sender characteristics, as we have seen for L. monticola (Labra 2006). 

De Pemo, C. S. and Cooper, W. E. (1993) Prey chemical discrimination and strike-induced chemosensory searching in the lizard Liolaemus zapallarensis. Chemoecology 4, 86-92. 

Fox, S. F. and Shipman, P. A. (2003) Social behavior at high and low elevations environmental release and phylogenetic effects in Liolaemus. In S. F. Fox, J. K. McCoy and T. A. Baird (Eds.), Lizard Social Behavior. John Hopkins University Press, New York, pp. 310-355. 

Labra, A. (2006) Chemoreception and the assessment of fighting abilities in the lizard Liolaemus monticola. Ethology 112, 993-999. 

Lamborot, M., Espinoza, A. and Alvarez, E. (1979) Karyotypic variation in Chilean lizards of the genus Liolaemus (Iguanidae). Experientia 35, 593-595. 

Liolaemus multiformis is an unusual lizard that thrives in the cold environment of the Andes Mountains at 4800 m and above. Temperatures are cold year-round, with morning temperatures falling as low as -5°C. The lizard spends the night in burrows, where it cools less than it would in the open. Nevertheless, the lizard s body temperature may still faU to... 

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