Avaliação da influência de fatores bióticos e abióticos sobre a seleção de sinais visuais de cor em lagartos Gymnophitalmideos de cauda colorida

Abstract

The coloration can peform a variety of functions among the various groups of animals, and, especially in lizards, this functional variability is relatively high, may act for exemplo as reproduction signaling, social signal and anti-predations strategy. Thus, the color adopted by the species may vary depending on the characteristics of the environment (e.g. Illuminant and background) and biotic factors (e.g. visual system of the observer), so that different colors are selected in according to the sensory environment in question. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of sensory drive in the tail coloration of two species of lizards gymnophitalmideos (Vanzosaura multiscutata and Micrablepharus maximiliani). For this were conducted collects samples in three different ecosystems (Caatinga, Sandbank and Atlantic Rain Forest) and in two different seasons (rainy and dry season). The color of the animals, as well as the surrounding substrate and the solar light spectrum was measured by a spectrophotometer and these information were inserted in a visual modeling for lizards and potential predators. The results showed peaks of the UV light in the surfaces of the two species measured, which may be responsible to increase contrast to animals with UV vision. The phenotype of lizard was the one that showed best results in detection of the tail of these two species. On the other hand, the other parts of the body, would supposedly have camouflage function, because of their low contrast with the substrate. We also found a variation of the color contrast between the animal and substrate for different visual phenotypes found in different observers. Therefore, it is concluded that the intraspecific communication may be the main factor affecting the conspicuous coloration of the tail of the two species. Moreover, the blue and red color may exert different functions at certain times. With the red tail fulfilling camouflage function to lizards, for example.