Chemical recognition of prey in Liolaemus ceii (Donoso-Barros, 1971)

Abstract

The order Squamata is divided into two broad groups: Scleroglossa and Iguania based on the main sensory modality (visual or chemical) they use to explore and interpret the environment. The first clade is characterised by the presence of chemical recognition of prey while Iguania presents visual ambush. Liolaemus, is the second most diverse genus in Iguania with more than 250 spp. L. lemniscatus and L. pictus, both presents chemical recognition of prey, while L. zapallarensis does not. In this work, we report a video register of L. ceii showing an Iguanian lizard, that localised its prey without to use its vision. This fact indicates that L. ceii presents chemical recognition of prey, similar to L. leminscatus and L. pictus. We are opening numerous possibilities to future investigation lines and we suggest the reformulation of the traditional division in Squamata.