Authors
Devi Stuart-Fox, Martin J Whiting, Adnan Moussalli
Publication date
2006/7/1
Journal
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume
88
Issue
3
Pages
437-446
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Description
Potential prey are often exposed to multiple predators that vary in their foraging tactics and ability to detect prey. For animals that rely on crypsis to avoid predators, one solution is to alter their behaviour or appearance to maximize crypsis in ways that are specific to different types of predator. We tested whether dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion transvaalense) showed different behavioural responses, including colour change, towards multiple predators (bird and snake models) that detect and capture prey in different ways, and whether these antipredator responses varied geographically. Chameleons consistently used the same body postures (lateral compression and flipping to the opposite side of the branch) and displayed similar chromatic (colour) contrast against the natural background in response to both predator types. However, they became significantly more achromatically contrasting (brighter) in the …
Total citations
20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202449111281310161797139871388