Heliobolus lugubris
| Bushveld lizard | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Lacertidae |
| Genus: | Heliobolus |
| Species: | H. lugubris |
| Binomial name | |
| Heliobolus lugubris (Smith, 1838)[1] | |
Heliobolus lugubris, also known as the bushveld lizard, is a species of lizard in the genus Heliobolus native to southern Africa.[2] Juveniles of this species are black with light spots and move with a hunched gait, mimicking the appearance of Anthia ground beetles. This mimicry is thought to discourage predation, as the beetles spray formic acid as a defense mechanism and are thus less appealing targets for predators. This is one of very few recorded examples of a vertebrate mimicking an invertebrate.[3]
References
- ↑ Smith, Andrew (1838). "Contributions to the Natural History of Southern Africa". Magazine of Natural History 2. p. 93.
- ↑ "Heliobolus lugubris (SMITH, 1838)". Reptile Database. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
- ↑ Huey, RB; Pianka, ER (January 1977). "Natural selection for juvenile lizards mimicking noxious beetles". Science 195 (4274): 201–203. doi:10.1126/science.831272. PMID 831272.
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