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The visual perceptual range of a lizard, Tiliqua rugosa

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Abstract

The fragmentation of landscapes produces habitat gaps where the distance between visual landmarks may exceed the perceptual range of a species and impose navigational constraints. We estimated the visual perceptual range of the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, by releasing individuals in the centre of a cleared arena in high temperature conditions, with a 0.5-m-high bush placed either 10, 20 or 30 m from the release site. Lizards were more likely to locate those bushes and shelter under them when they were closer, and no lizards found a bush at 30 m. In addition, lizards were less likely to move from the release point when bushes were at 30 m than when they were at the two closer distances. These data suggest that for sleepy lizards the perceptual range for a 0.5-m-high bush is about 20 m. In the uncleared chenopod shrub-land where these lizards live, suitable shelter bushes are an average of 10.5 m from any point in their home range, well within their perceptual range.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Ron and Leona Clark for allowing us access to their land and use of the homestead at Bundey Bore Station. Dale Burzacott and Toby Galligan helped with the field work. The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Flinders University Animal Welfare Committee in compliance with the Australian Code of Practice for the use of animals for scientific purposes. The Australian Research Council and School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, funded this research.

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  1. School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia

    Zonnetje M. Auburn, C. Michael Bull & Gregory D. Kerr

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  1. Zonnetje M. Auburn
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  2. C. Michael Bull
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  3. Gregory D. Kerr
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Correspondence to C. Michael Bull.

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Auburn, Z.M., Bull, C.M. & Kerr, G.D. The visual perceptual range of a lizard, Tiliqua rugosa . J Ethol 27, 75–81 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-008-0086-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-008-0086-z

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