Escaping behavior and morphological correlates in two Liolaemus species of Central Chile (Lacertilia: Iguanidae).

Two central Chile lizards differ in their response to the approach of potential predators: Liolaemus lemniscatus escapes from rocky patches into grassy patches, and Liolaemus fuscus runs away from a rock onto another within the same rocky patch. These escaping responses are associated with concealing coloration and comparatively shorter legs in L. lemniscatus, as compared to L. fuscus. The adequacy of the behavior of L. lemniscatus is discussed.