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Lizards tend to be bright, alert and responsive, almost inquisitive. Captive-born ones are more tame and docile, and tolerate [[Lizard Handling and Restraint|handling]] and sometimes relax when being lightly stroked. Wild-caught lizards are often shy, wary and try to escape at the slightest disturbance.

Lizards tend to be bright, alert and responsive, almost inquisitive. Captive-born ones are more tame and docile, and tolerate [[Lizard Handling and Restraint|handling]] and sometimes relax when being lightly stroked. Wild-caught lizards are often shy, wary and try to escape at the slightest disturbance.

==Defensive behaviour==

==Defensive behaviour==

[[Image:Horned_lizard_blood.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Coast horned lizard (''Phrynosoma coronatum'') after squirting blood from its eye to protect itself.''' (Photo credit: Zylorian, Wikimedia Commons)]]

[[Image:Lizard_anole.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Defensive behaviour in an anole''' (Copyright © RVC)]][[Image:Horned_lizard_blood.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Coast horned lizard (''Phrynosoma coronatum'') after squirting blood from its eye to protect itself.''' (© Zylorian, Wikimedia Commons)]]

[[Image:Lizard_Fight.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Two male red-headed rock agama lizards fighting''' (Photo credit: Jason Pratt, Wikimedia Commons)]]

When threatened, iguanas, [[Monitor|monitors]] and other lizards tend to display defensive aggression. They stand sideways to the threat, swallow air to increase their size, stand high off the ground to look bigger and lash at the threat with their tails. Some lizards may display head bobbing and push-ups or gape and threaten to bite.

When threatened, iguanas, [[Monitor|monitors]] and other lizards tend to display defensive aggression. They stand sideways to the threat, swallow air to increase their size, stand high off the ground to look bigger and lash at the threat with their tails. Some lizards may display head bobbing and push-ups or gape and threaten to bite.

When several lizards are [[Lizard Housing|housed]] together, aggression and dominance is not always overtly physical since actual fighting may not occur. Subtle behaviour by the dominant lizard may result in the subordinate staying away from basking areas and food and slowly dying of stress-enhanced [[Lizard Hyperthermia/ Hypothermia|hypothermia]] and starvation.

When several lizards are [[Lizard Housing|housed]] together, aggression and dominance is not always overtly physical since actual fighting may not occur. Subtle behaviour by the dominant lizard may result in the subordinate staying away from basking areas and food and slowly dying of stress-enhanced [[Lizard Hyperthermia/ Hypothermia|hypothermia]] and starvation.

==References==

==References==

* Mader, D.R. (2005). ''Reptile Medicine and Surgery''. Saunders. pp. 1264. ISBN 072169327X

* Mader, D.R. (2005). ''Reptile Medicine and Surgery''. Saunders. pp. 1264. ISBN 072169327X

[[Category:Lizard Behaviour|B]]

 

 

[[Category:Lizard]]