TAIL LOSS CONSEQUENCES ON HABITAT USE BY THE IBERIAN ROCK LIZARD, LACERTA-MONTICOLA

Habitat preferences in lizards are often associated with specific morphological traits and locomotor behavior. Caudal autotomy occurs in many lizards and is often used for escape from predators. Autotomy produces an immediate benefit in terms of survival, although associated costs during tail regeneration may reduce individual fitness. Tail loss may affect the efficiency with which lizards use their habitat. We investigated experimentally the effect of tail loss on microhabitat use in a population of the Iberian rock lizard, Lacerta monticola. Significant differences in microhabitat use were not detected between tailed and tailless lizards during the reproductive season (spring), but during summer tailless lizards were more often associated with rocks and used grassy and bare ground less than did tailed lizards. Conflicting requirements during reproductive versus non reproductive seasons may explain that tailless lizards do not modify microhabitat use during spring by means of behavioral flexibility.