Herptile Advertisements In The Wild

Japanese Grass Lizards, Takydromus tachydromoides, are amongst a certain group of animals that shake their feet to deter predators chasing them in the wild. To sell this product effectively, a study by Gummo Kubo and Akira Mori has investigated how predators perceive this advert.

The lizard is found all over Japan in highland or lowland grasslands and gardens. It has a dull brown colorisation with dark and light stripes from snout to tail. Males are slightly larger than females by a couple of millimetres. Hatchlings are 6mm smaller than their adult counterparts.

The Field of Research - Kyoto, Japan

Around 127 individuals were recorded as males, females and hatchlings. Males were the most certain to do foot shakes because of their larger size and higher body temperature. Distances of 1-2m, from the predator, determined the frequency of the signals. Anything below this distance would assume that the lizard has took flight.

This type of quality advertisement shows the peak physical condition that the grass lizard is in. Again, individuals, that are larger and at warmer temperatures, provide this display to show off their prowess.

Takydromus tachydromoides performing foot shakes (extracted from a video). The number in the top right corner of each photograph indicates the time (milliseconds) from the beginning of the display.

This would, hopefully, deter predator advances and aid the lizard's escape. Vigorous and luring predators will both be subject to the foot shakes. A study like this will uncover uncharted territory where research is few and far between. It's, also, a great starter pack on what the advertisement means by observing the species in-situ instead of solely relying on educated ideas.