title: Detection and discrimination of conspecific scents by the anguid slow-worm Anguis fragilis.
abstract: We tested the ability of male slow-worms, Anguis fragilis, a limbless anguid lizard with secretive, semifossorial habits, to detect chemical associated with conspecifics by using a T-maze in the laboratory. Male slow-worms discriminated conspecific male and female scent deposits. Males selected the arm with female scent, suggesting that scent deposits may be used to locate potential mates. Also, male slow-worms did not avoid the chemicals of other males, suggesting that they are not territorial. However, males discriminated their own scent from those of other males, and spent more time exploring the arm with other male scent, which suggests that scent marks may bear information that could be used in future intrasexual social contexts. We conclude that discrimination of conspecifics based on scents may be more widespread than previously expected among lizards inhabiting visually restricted environments.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Adega
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonzalo
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabido
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology*; D008116:Lizards; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000502:physiology; D010675:Pheromones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D010675:Pheromones