PRACTICAL 7

BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS AND SELECTION PRESSURE IN AMPHIBIANS

AND REPTILES-III
GARTER SNAKE:
Adaptation: In cold conditions, the snakes hibernate to spend winter. After hibernation, male
leave the den and wait for the female. One of the males leaves the den last and get warm. Then
he present himself as a female to attract other males and in doing to he gain the heat of others nd
make fool of them. After that he releases pheromones and attract females for mating.
Selection Pressure: Compete for the female.
IGUANA:
Adaptation: lays eggs once a year and always have a danger of predators to eat its eggs. So, she
digs in the soil and lay her eggs and cover them with soil. But a hognose snake comes and
detects the egg's presence. The hognose snake eats the eggs.
Selection pressure: Hognose snake; a predator.
FEMALE HORNED LIZARD:
Adaptation: This lizard also feels a danger for its eggs to be predated. So, she becomes alert for
the predator’s attack. When western patch nosed snake comes near the lizard becomes
aggressive and saves the egg for the time being. A Second predator, lizard eating snake comes to
attack the horned lizard. As she feels the danger, they have the adaptability to alert others of
predator attack. They adopt a strategy to look bigger and longer to deter predator. And pretend to
be dead by turning upside down of their body.
Selection pressure: Western Patch Nosed Snake is a predator of the horned lizard and her eggs.
SEA KRAIT SNAKE:
Adaptation: They are adapted to live under water except for the breeding season because eggs
don’t survive in water. If she returns to land with her eggs, the predators will attack. She dives
beneath the island to hide from the predator, here she enters into a tunnel under water. These lay
eggs at the far end of tunnels where there is excess of oxygen with no water, no predator.
Selection pressure: Have to find a better and safe place to lay eggs and protection from predator.
GIANT BULL FROG:
Adaptation: Males compete for the best female. Males not only care for their young ones but also
of offsprings of their genetic relatives. Female lay eggs in shallows around the margins of the
pool. When the sun shines, shallows shrink to a single pool, drying out the eggs. Guardian bull
Frog make tunnel with main pool so that the new ones move toward the water and escape from
drying.
Selection pressure: Male fight for mating with the most suitable female.