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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Lizards Do "Push Ups" to Get Their Neighbors' Attention


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Research on the yellow-chinned anole in Puerto Rico (above) confirms a longheld theory that animals use grand gestures and loud noises to get the attention of other members of their species in chaotic, noisy environments.

These reptiles create exaggerated, eye-catching push-ups to grab their neighbors' attention before using more nuanced head-bobbing gestures to communicate territorial and fitness claims, according to a study published this week.

Photograph courtesy Terry Ord