Lizards skinks

A detailed predator-prey analysis of the chemical relations between the carabid Pasimachus subsulcatus and the skink Eumeces inexpectus proved that the latter were repelled by constituents of the carabids secretions, indicating that the beetles are chemically protected from attacks by the lizards [85]. 

Olfaction is not necessary in other lizard species. For instance, the ground-skink, Scincella lateralis, which feeds on insects in the ground litter, does not require chemical cues to attack prey (Nicoletto, 1985). Presumahly, vision alone suffices for this purpose. 

Fish, amphibians, and reptiles are usually less sensitive to 1080 than warm-blooded animals. Reptiles, for example, are more resistant to 1080 than mammals. The relatively small elevation of plasma citrate levels in skinks Tiliqua rugosa) given 100.0 mg 1080/kg BW reflects the exceptional tolerance of this lizard species. The minimal effect of fluoroacetate on aerobic respiration in T. rugosa could be explained by a low conversion of fluoroacetate into fluorocitrate or by a low susceptibility of aconitase to the fluorocitrate formed. Though defluorination in skinks helped to minimize the immediate effects of fluoroacetate in aerobic respiration, it resulted in rapid depletion of liver glutathione levels. 

Leopard lizard, Crotophytus wislizenii, 117 Shingle-back lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, 798 Six-lined racerunner, Cnemidophorus sexlineatus, 264 Skink, Lerista spp., 122, 793 Skink, Morethia spp., 122 Uta, side-blotched, Uta stansbunana. 111 Whip-tailed lizard, Cnemidophorus tigris, 117... 

Cooper, W.E., Jr. 1990. Chemical detection of predators by a lizard, the broad-headed skink (Eumeces laticeps). J. Exp. Zool, 256, 162-167. 

LIZARD PHEROMONES BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES AND ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE IN SKINKS OF THE GENUS EUMECES... 

All three North American representatives of the fasciatus group are differentially responsive to chemical stimuli arising from conspecifics. Operationally, these lizards can discriminate members of their own species from their most closely related congeners solely on the basis of chemical cues. They appear to identify skinks as conspecific or heterospecific, but there is no evidence that they make any distinctions among heterospecific congeners pheromonally. 

Both sexes of skinks in the fasciatus group of Eumeces from the southeastern United States recognize conspecifics as indicated by restriction of male agonistic behavior and sexual receptivity by females to conspecific lizards. Males of only one species, E. inexpectatus, courted heterospecific females. 

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