ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an integrated overview of the predatory behavior of lizards, based upon available empirical evidence. It summarizes researchers’ understanding of foraging strategies, which allows them to place the predatory behavior of lizards into the broader context of the ways in which these animals operate in the environments in which they live. The chapter considers how prey is detected and identified, and then more extensively consider the adjustment and prey capture phases of predatory behavior, comparing and contrasting tongue-based and jaw-based prehension of prey, and how these two approaches influence behavioral patterns. It explains how the predatory behavior of lizards may be used as a model for refining researchers understanding of the ways in which predators approach and catch moving prey. The chapter deals with a brief consideration of future directions that would be useful for further enhancing researchers understanding of the predatory behavior of lizards.
