494
Views
26
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Review

Aggregation behaviour of lizards in the arid western regions of South Africa

Pages 155-170 | Received 23 Jul 2010, Accepted 10 Feb 2011, Published online: 03 Mar 2011

References

  • Alexander , R.D. 1974 . The evolution of social behaviour . Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. , 5 : 325 – 383 .
  • Bauwens , D. , Castilla , A.M. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 1999 . Field body temperatures, activity levels and opportunities for thermoregulation in an extreme microhabitat specialist, the girdled lizard Cordylus macropholis . J. Zool. , 249 : 11 – 18 .
  • Berry , P.E. 2002 . Does the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus, benefit from ‘safety in numbers’? Unpubl. Honours project, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Branch , W.R. 1998 . Field Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Southern Africa . Struik Publishers, Cape Town .
  • Branch , W.R. and Whiting , M.J. 1997 . A new Platysaurus (Squamata: Cordylidae) from the Northern Cape Province, South Africa . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 46 : 124 – 136 .
  • Broadley , D.G. 1964 . A monographic study of the cordylid lizard genus Platysaurus . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa .
  • Burrage , B.R. 1974 . Population structure in Agama atra and Cordylus cordylus in the vicinity of De Kelders, Cape Province . Ann. S. Afr. Mus. , 66 : 1 – 23 .
  • Chapple , D.G. 2003 . Ecology, life-history and behaviour in the Australian scincid genus Egernia, with comments on the evolution of complex sociality in lizards . Herpetol. Monogr. , 17 : 125 – 180 .
  • Cooper , W.E. 1994 . Prey chemical discrimination, foraging mode, and phylogeny . Pp. 95–116. In : L.J. Vitt & E.R. Pianka , Lizard Ecology: Historical and Experimental Perspectives . Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ .
  • Cooper , W.E. 2005 . Foraging mode controversy: Both continuous variation and clustering of foraging movements occur . J. Zool. , 267 : 179 – 190 .
  • Cooper , W.E. , Caffrey , C. and Vitt , L.J. 1985 . Aggregation in the Banded Gecko, Coleonyx variegatus . Herpetologica , 41 : 342 – 350 .
  • Cooper , W.E. , Van Wyk , J.H. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 1996 . Pheromonal detection and sex discrimination of conspecific substrate deposits by the rock-dwelling cordylid lizard Cordylus cordylus . Copeia , 1996 : 839 – 845 .
  • Cooper , W.E. , Van Wyk , J.H. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 1999 . Discrimination between self-produced pheromones and those produced by individuals of the same sex in the lizard Cordylus cordylus . J. Chem. Ecol. , 25 : 197 – 208 .
  • Cooper , W.E. , Whiting , M.J. and Van Wyk , J.H. 1997 . Foraging modes of cordyliform lizards . S. Afr. J. Zool. , 32 : 9 – 13 .
  • Cooper , W.E. , Whiting , M.J. , Van Wyk , J.H. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 1999 . Movement- and attack-based indices of foraging mode and ambush foraging in some gekkonid and agamine lizards from southern Africa . Amphibia-Reptilia , 20 : 391 – 399 .
  • Cooper , W.E. , Wyk , J.H.Van , Mouton , P. le F.N. , Al-Johany , J.A. , Lemos-Espinal , M.A. , Paulisson , M.A. and Flowers , M. 2000 . Lizard antipredatory behaviours preventing extraction from crevices . Herpetologica , 56 : 394 – 401 .
  • Cordes , I.G. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Van Wyk , J.H. 1995 . Sexual dimorphism in two closely related lizard species, Cordylus niger and Cordylus cordylus . S. Afr. J. Zool. , 30 : 187 – 196 .
  • Costandius , E. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Flemming , A.F. 2006 . The effect of intergroup distance on group fidelity and neonate dispersal in the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 55 : 61 – 68 .
  • Curtin , A.J. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Chinsamy , A. 2005 . Bone growth patterns in two cordylid lizards, Cordylus cataphractus and C. capensis . Afr. Zool. , 40 : 1 – 7 .
  • Effenberger , E. 2004 . Social structure and spatial-use in a group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Effenberger , E. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 2007 . Space-use in a multi-male group of the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . J. Zool. , 272 : 202 – 208 .
  • Elfstrom , B.E.O. and Zucker , N. 1999 . Winter aggregation and its relationship to social status in the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus . J. Herpetol. , 33 : 240 – 248 .
  • Fell , R. 2005 . Aggregating behaviour and sexual dimorphism in a melanistic girdled lizard, Cordylus peersi, from South Africa . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Univ. of York, York, UK .
  • Flemming , A.F. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 2002 . Reproduction in a group-living lizard from South Africa . J. Herpetol. , 36 : 691 – 696 .
  • Frost , D. , Janies , D. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Titus , T. 2001 . A molecular perspective on the phylogeny of the cordylid lizards (Cordylidae, Squamata) . Am. Mus. Nov. , 3310 : 1 – 10 .
  • Glover , J.L. 2002 . The temporal status of solitary individuals in the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . Unpubl. Honours project, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Graves , B.M. and Duvall , D. 1995 . Aggregation of squamate reptiles associated with gestation, oviposition and parturition . Herpetol. Monogr. , 9 : 102 – 119 .
  • Greeff , J.M. and Whiting , M.J. 2000 . Foraging-mode plasticity in the lizard Platysaurus broadleyi . Herpetologica , 56 : 402 – 407 .
  • Hayward , J. 2008 . Group dynamics and anti-predatory advantages of group-living in the armadillo lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Hayward , J. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 2007 . Group location in the group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus: the significance of occupancy and a group signal . Amphibia-Reptilia , 28 : 329 – 335 .
  • Huey , R.B. and Pianka , E.R. 1981 . Ecological consequences of foraging mode . Ecology , 62 : 991 – 999 .
  • Janse van Rensburg , D.A. 2009 . Morphological and behavioural correlates of melanism in cordylid lizards: conservation implications for melanistic lizards in the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor . Unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Janse van Rensburg , D.A. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Van Niekerk , A. 2009 . Why cordylid lizards are black at the south-western tip of Africa . J. Zool. , 278 : 333 – 341 .
  • Kearney , M. , Shine , R. , Comber , S. and Pearson , D. 2001 . Why do geckos group? An analysis of “social” aggregations in two species of Australian lizards . Herpetologica , 57 : 411 – 422 .
  • Krebs , J.R. and Davies , N.B. 1993 . An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology , 3rd edition , Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, UK .
  • Lanham , E.J. and Bull , C.M. 2004 . Enhanced vigilance in groups in Egernia stokesii, a lizard with stable social aggregations . J. Zool. , 263 : 95 – 99 .
  • Lima , S.L. 1995 . Back to the basics of anti-predatory vigilance: the group-size effect . Anim. Behav. , 49 : 11 – 20 .
  • Losos , J.B. , Mouton , P. le F.N. , Bickel , R. , Cornelius , I. and Ruddock , L. 2002 . The effect of body armature on escape behaviour in cordylid lizards . Anim. Behav. , 64 : 313 – 321 .
  • Meyer , A. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 2007 . Aggregation in Bibron's gecko, Chondrodactylus bibronii . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 56 : 137 – 147 .
  • Mouton , P. le F.N. and Flemming , A.F. 2001 . Osteoderm function in the lizard family Cordylidae. Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Jena, Germany, July 21–26, 2001 . J. Morphol. , 248 : 264
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Flemming , A.F. and Earby , C.A. 1998 . Active generation glands present in neonates of some cordylid lizards: a case study of Cordylus macropholis (Sauria: Cordylidae) . J. Morphol. , 235 : 177 – 182 .
  • Mouton , P . le F.N. , Flemming A.F. , Effenberger E. & Visagie L. . 2005 . Spines versus speed in cordylid lizards: the armadillo lizard, Cordylus cataphractus, as an extreme case . Proceedings of the Fifth World Congress of Herpetology, Stellenbosch, June 2005 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Flemming , A.F. and Kanga , E.M. 1999 . Grouping behaviour, tail biting behaviour, and sexual dimorphism in the armadillo lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) from South Africa . J. Zool. , 249 : 1 – 10 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Flemming , A.F. and Nieuwoudt , C.J. 2000a . Sexual dimorphism and sex ratio in a terrestrial girdled lizard, Cordylus macropholis . J. Herpetol. , 34 : 379 – 386 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Fourie , D. and Flemming , A.F. 2000b . Oxygen consumption in two cordylid lizards . Amphibia-Reptilia , 21 : 502 – 507 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Gagiano , C. and Sachse , B. 2005 . Generation glands and sexual size dimorphism in the Cape crag lizard, Pseudocordylus microlepidotus . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 54 : 43 – 51 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Geertsema , H. and Visagie , L. 2000c . Foraging mode of a group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus (Cordylidae) . Afr. Zool. , 35 : 1 – 7 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. , Janse van Rensburg , D.A. and Van Wyk , J.H. 2010 . Epidermal glands in cordylid lizards with special reference to generation glands . Zool. J. Linn. Soc. , 158 : 312 – 324 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. and Oelofsen , B.W. 1988 . A model explaining patterns of geographic character variation in Cordylus cordylus (Reptilia: Cordylidae) in the south-western Cape, South Africa . S. Afr. J. Zool. , 23 : 20 – 31 .
  • Mouton , P. , le , F.N. and Van Wyk , J.H. 1997 . Adaptive radiation in cordyliform lizards: An overview . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 46 : 78 – 88 .
  • Myres , B.C. and Eels , M.M. 1968 . Thermal aggregation in Boa constrictor . Herpetologica , 24 : 61 – 66 .
  • Nieuwoudt , C.J. 2001 . The effects of coastal lowland instability: melanism in Cordylus polyzonus and terrestriality in Cordylus macropholis . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Nieuwoudt , C.J. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Flemming , A.F. 2003a . Sex ratio, group composition and male spacing in the Large-scaled Girdled Lizard, Cordylus macropholis . J. Herpetol. , 37 : 577 – 580 .
  • Nieuwoudt , C.J. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Flemming , A.F. 2003b . Adult male aggression towards juvenile males in the Large-scaled Girdled Lizard, Cordylus macropholis . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 52 : 53 – 59 .
  • Nieuwoudt , C.J. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Flemming , A.F. 2003c . Aggregating behaviour and movement patterns in the Large-scaled Girdled Lizard, Cordylus macropholis . Amphibia-Reptilia , 24 : 345 – 357 .
  • Perry , G. 1999 . The evolution of search modes: ecological versus phylogenetic perspectives . Am. Nat. , 153 : 99 – 109 .
  • Perry , G. 2007 . Movement patterns in lizards: measurement, modality, and behavioral correlates . Pp. 13–48. In : S.M. Reilly , L.B. McBrayer & D.B. Miles , Lizard Ecology . Cambridge University Press, New York .
  • Pianka , E.R. 1966 . Convexity, desert lizards and spatial heterogeneity . Ecology , 47 : 1055 – 1059 .
  • Pianka , E.R. 1971 . Lizard species density in Kalahari Desert . Ecology , 52 : 1024 – 1029 .
  • Pianka , E.R. and Huey , R.B. 1978 . Comparative ecology, niche segregation, and resource utilization among gekkonid lizards in the southern Kalahari . Copeia , 1978 : 691 – 701 .
  • Proust , N. 2005 . Are melanistic populations of the Karoo Girled Lizard, C. polyzonus, cool-adapted? Evidence from morphology . Unpubl. Honours project, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Ruby , D.E. 1977 . Winter activity in Yarrow's spiny lizard, Sceloporus jarrovi . Herpetologica , 33 : 322 – 333 .
  • Schutz , L. , Stuart-Fox , D. and Whiting , M.J. 2007 . Does the lizard Platysaurus broadleyi aggregate because of social factors? . J. Herpetol. , 41 : 354 – 359 .
  • Schwarzkopf , L. and Shine , R. 1991 . Thermal biology of reproduction in viviparous skinks, Eulamprus tympanum: why do gravid females bask more? . Oecol. , 88 : 562 – 569 .
  • Shah , B. , Shine , R. , Hudson , S. and Kearny , M. 2003 . Sociality in lizards: why do Thick-tailed Geckos, Nephrurus milii, aggregate? . Behaviour , 140 : 1039 – 1052 .
  • Shuttleworth , C. 2006 . Ecological relationships between the Armadillo Lizard (Cordylus cataphractus) and the Southern Harvester Termite (Microhodotermes viator) . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Shuttleworth , C. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Van Wyk , J.H. 2008 . Group size and termite consumption in the armadillo lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . Amphibia-Reptilia , 29 : 171 – 176 .
  • Stanley , E.L. , Bauer , A.M. , Jackman , T.R. , Branch , W.R. and Mouton , P. le F.N. 2011 . Between a rock and a hard polytomy: rapid radiation in the rupicolous Girdled Lizards (Squamata: Cordylidae) . Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. , 58 : 53 – 70 .
  • Truter , J.C. 2011 . Thermoregulation in a group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus: A temporal and spatial analysis . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Visagie , L. 2001 . Grouping behaviour in the armadillo girdled lizard, Cordylus cataphractus . Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Stellenbosch Univ., Stellenbosch, South Africa .
  • Visagie , L. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Bauwens , D. 2005 . Experimental analysis of grouping behaviour in cordylid lizards . Herpetol. J. , 15 : 91 – 96 .
  • Visagie , L. , Mouton , P. le F.N. and Flemming , A.F . 2002 . Intergroup-movement in a group-living lizard, Cordylus cataphractus, from South Africa . Afr. J. Herpetol. , 51 : 75 – 80 .
  • Vitt , L.J. 1974 . Winter aggregations, size classes and relative tail breaks in the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus (Sauria: Iguanidae) . Herpetologica , 30 : 182 – 183 .
  • Whiting , M.J. , Stuart-Fox , D.M. , O'Connor , D. , Firth , D. , Bennett , N.C. and Blomberg , S.P. 2006 . Ultraviolet signals ultra-aggression in a lizard . Anim. Behav. , 72 : 753 – 763 .
  • Wirminghaus , J.O. 1990 . Observations on the behaviour of the Cape girdled lizard Cordylus cordylus (Reptilia: Cordylidae) . J. Nat. Hist. , 24 : 1617 – 1627 .

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.