The effects of physical environment, time in captivity, and defensive distance on tonic immobility, freezing, and flight behaviors in Anolis carolinensis

Abstract

The effects of physical environment, time in captivity, and distance between potential predator and prey on defensive behaviors were examined in Anolis carolinensis. When the experimenter was nearby, duration of immobility was significantly longer in the open than in areas with nearby foliage. However, this relationship between duration of immobility and the testing environment in the anole was reversed by Day 9 in captivity. Flight latency of anoles after termination of immobility was significantly shorter in anoles housed in terraria containing foliage, while greater incidence of freezing was shown by anoles housed in empty terraria. These results suggest that although the physical environment has strong effects on defense behaviors, the different defensive reactions are influenced in different ways. © 1979 Psychonomic Society, Inc.