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Ontogenetic switch between alternative antipredatory strategies in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius): defensive threat versus escape

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Abstract

Ontogenetic changes in antipredator behavior optimize survival of growing animals. Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) respond to a simulated predator either by postural and vocal threats, sometimes followed by biting, or alternatively by a rapid escape. The former “confrontational” and the latter “avoidance” behavior rarely occurs in a sequence; in fact, they represent mutually exclusive defensive strategies. We examined 552 individuals of a leopard gecko (E. macularius) of various ages, from hatching up to adulthood (31 months). Each experimental animal was exposed to a sequence of five “water-spraying” and ten “stick” (stick poking on base of the tail) stimuli, and the emitted behavior was recorded. We analyzed the effects of age, body size, body condition, adult–juvenile coloration, and sex on observed behavioral traits. The results showed that in the case of water-spraying stimulus, the usage of deterrent vocalization or escape tactic was affected by age and condition. In addition to that, using deterrent vocalization was influenced by the coloration of the animal. Stick stimulus evokes antipredator strategies that correspond with age and coloration (deterrent vocalization) and also with standardized body size (escape). Thus, leopard geckos exhibit clear ontogenetic change of defensive strategies, from threat–vocalization–bite strategy prevailing in juveniles to an escape strategy typical for adults. This behavioral change is accompanied by the ontogenetic switch of coloration from presumably warning contrasting light–dark banded pattern of juveniles to a cryptic spotted coloration of the adults.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the Grant Agency of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic project no. IAA 601410803.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

All performed experiments were allowed by Ethical Committee of the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic and approved by Ethical Committee of Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, license no. 27667/2007-30.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 7, 128 44, Prague, Czech Republic

    Eva Landová, Jitka Jančúchová-Lásková, Veronika Musilová, Štěpánka Kadochová & Daniel Frynta

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  1. Eva Landová
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  2. Jitka Jančúchová-Lásková
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  4. Štěpánka Kadochová
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Correspondence to Daniel Frynta.

Additional information

Communicated by S. J. Downes

Electronic supplementary material

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A young Leopard gecko (5 months) possessing the sub-adult color pattern is exposed to the water-spraying stimulus (five times). The response of the gecko to the stimulus is a defensive posture. (MPG 1788 kb)

A young animal (5 months) possessing the subadult color pattern is exposed to the stick stimulus (ten times).The response of the gecko are various defensive postures accompanied by a threat vocalization. (MPG 4727 kb)

An adult 29-month-old leopard gecko is trying to localize the water-spraying stimulus and to face the potential threat. (MPG 2169 kb)

An adult 29-month-old leopard gecko exhibits various defensive postures in response to the stick stimulus (five times). (MPG 4775 kb)

An adult 29-month-old leopard gecko performs the escape behavior in response to the touching stick. (MPG 5033 kb)

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Landová, E., Jančúchová-Lásková, J., Musilová, V. et al. Ontogenetic switch between alternative antipredatory strategies in the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius): defensive threat versus escape. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 67, 1113–1122 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-013-1536-3

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