Editing Reptile (section)

==Defense mechanisms==
Many small reptiles, such as snakes and lizards, that live on the ground or in the water are vulnerable to being preyed on by all kinds of carnivorous animals. Thus, [[Conflict avoidance|avoidance]] is the most common form of defense in reptiles.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Reptile |series=animal |department=Behaviour |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/498684/reptile/38450/Behaviour |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> At the first sign of danger, most snakes and lizards crawl away into the undergrowth, and turtles and crocodiles will plunge into water and sink out of sight.

===Camouflage and warning===
[[File:Phelsuma dubia edit1.jpg|thumb|A camouflaged ''[[Dull day gecko|Phelsuma deubia]]'' on a palm frond]]

Reptiles tend to avoid confrontation through [[camouflage]]. Two major groups of reptile predators are birds and other reptiles, both of which have well-developed color vision. Thus the skins of many reptiles have [[Crypsis|cryptic]] coloration of plain or mottled gray, green, and brown to allow them to blend into the background of their natural environment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reptile and amphibian defense systems |department=Animal behavior |type=resource |publisher=Teachervision.fen.com |url=http://www.teachervision.fen.com/animal-behavior/resource/8700.html |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> Aided by the reptiles' capacity for remaining motionless for long periods, the camouflage of many snakes is so effective that people or domestic animals are most typically bitten because they accidentally step on them.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Nagel |first1=Salomé Susanna |date=October 2012 |title=Haemostatic function of dogs naturally envenomed by African puffadder (''Bitis arietans'') or snouted cobra (''Naja annulifera'') |degree=MMedVet |department=Companion Animal Clinical Studies |publisher=University of Pretoria |place=South Africa |page=66 |hdl=2263/25851 |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/25851 |access-date=9 Feb 2023}}</ref>

When camouflage fails to protect them, [[blue-tongued skink]]s will try to ward off attackers by displaying their blue tongues, and the [[frill-necked lizard]] will display its brightly colored frill. These same displays are used in territorial disputes and during courtship.<ref name=Cogger>{{cite book |last=Cogger |first=Harold G. |year=1986 |title=Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia |publisher=Reed Books |location=Frenchs Forest, NSW |isbn=978-0-7301-0088-1 |page=238}}</ref> If danger arises so suddenly that flight is useless, crocodiles, turtles, some lizards, and some snakes hiss loudly when confronted by an enemy. [[Rattlesnakes]] rapidly vibrate the tip of the tail, which is composed of a series of nested, hollow beads to ward off approaching danger.

In contrast to the normal drab coloration of most reptiles, the lizards of the genus ''Heloderma'' (the [[Gila monster]] and the [[beaded lizard]]) and many of the [[coral snake]]s have high-contrast warning coloration, warning potential predators they are venomous.<ref>{{cite book |editor=Harris, Tim |display-editors=etal |year=2011 |title=North American Wildlife |publisher=Marshall Cavendish Reference |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-76147-938-3 |page=86, picture caption |quote=The bold patterns of the venomous gila monster are an example of warning coloration. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fU25LOYnVokC&q=venomous+gila+monster+warning+colors&pg=PA86 |access-date=August 18, 2014}}</ref> A number of non-venomous North American snake species have colorful markings similar to those of the coral snake, an oft cited example of [[Batesian mimicry]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Brodie, Edmund D., III |year=1993 |title=Differential avoidance of coral snake banded patterns by free-ranging avian predators in Costa Rica |journal=Evolution |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=227–235 |doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.1993.tb01212.x |pmid=28568087 |jstor=2410131 |s2cid=7159917 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Brodie, Edmund D., III |author2=Moore, Allen J. |year=1995 |title=Experimental studies of coral snake mimicry: Do snakes mimic millipedes? |journal=Animal Behaviour |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=534–536 |doi=10.1006/anbe.1995.0072 |bibcode=1995AnBeh..49..534B |s2cid=14576682 }}</ref>

===Alternative defense in snakes===
{{further|Venom|Evolution of snake venom}}

Camouflage does not always fool a predator. When caught out, snake species adopt different defensive tactics and use a complicated set of behaviors when attacked. Some species, like cobras or hognose snakes, first elevate their head and spread out the skin of their neck in an effort to look large and threatening. Failure of this strategy may lead to other measures practiced particularly by cobras, vipers, and closely related species, which use [[snake venom|venom]] to attack. The venom is modified saliva, delivered through fangs from a [[venom gland]].<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Bauchot |editor-first=Roland |year=1994 |title=Snakes: A natural history |publisher=Sterling Publishing |isbn=978-1-4027-3181-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/snakesnaturalhis0000bauc/page/194 194–209] |url=https://archive.org/details/snakesnaturalhis0000bauc |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Casewell |first1=N.R. |last2=Wuster |first2=W. |last3=Vonk |first3=F.J. |last4=Harrison |first4=R.A. |last5=Fry |first5=B.G. |year=2013 |title=Complex cocktails: the evolutionary novelty of venoms |journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution |volume=28 |issue=4 |pages=219–229 |doi=10.1016/j.tree.2012.10.020 |pmid=23219381 |bibcode=2013TEcoE..28..219C }}</ref> Some non-venomous snakes, such as American [[hognose snakes]] or European [[grass snake]], [[thanatosis|play dead]] when in danger; some, including the grass snake, exude a foul-smelling liquid to deter attackers.<ref>{{cite magazine | first = Susan | last = Milius | date = October 28, 2006 | title = Why play dead? | magazine = Science News | volume = 170 | issue = 18 | pages = 280–281 | doi = 10.2307/4017568 | jstor = 4017568 | s2cid = 85722243 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cooke |first=Fred |year=2004 |title=The Encyclopedia of Animals: A complete visual guide |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-24406-1 |page=405 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2V1tHqi4hLEC&pg=PA405}}</ref>

==={{anchor|Defense in crocodiles}}Defense in crocodilians===
When a [[crocodilian]] is concerned about its safety, it will gape to expose the teeth and tongue. If this does not work, the crocodilian gets a little more agitated and typically begins to make hissing sounds. After this, the crocodilian will start to change its posture dramatically to make itself look more intimidating. The body is inflated to increase apparent size. If absolutely necessary, it may decide to attack an enemy.
[[File:White-headed dwarf gecko.jpg|thumb|A [[White-headed dwarf gecko]] with shed tail]]
Some species try to bite immediately. Some will use their heads as [[sledgehammer]]s and literally smash an opponent, some will rush or swim toward the threat from a distance, even chasing the opponent onto land or galloping after it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ferocious Crocs |series=Animal Planet |publisher=Animal.discovery.com |date=2008-09-10 |url=http://animal.discovery.com/convergence/safari/crocs/expert/expert6.html |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> The main weapon in all crocodiles is the bite, which can generate very high bite force. Many species also possess [[Canine tooth|canine]]-like teeth. These are used primarily for seizing prey, but are also used in fighting and display.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Erickson, Gregory M. |author2=Gignac, Paul M. |author3=Steppan, Scott J. |author4=Lappin, A. Kristopher |author5=Vliet, Kent A. |author6=Brueggen, John D. |author7=Inouye, Brian D. |author8=Kledzik, David |author9=Webb, Grahame J.W. |author10= Claessens, Leon |display-authors=6 |year=2012 |title=Insights into the ecology and evolutionary success of crocodilians revealed through bite-force and tooth-pressure experimentation |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=7 |issue=3 |page=e31781 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0031781 |doi-access=free |pmid=22431965 |pmc=3303775 |bibcode=2012PLoSO...731781E}}{{open access}}</ref>

===Shedding and regenerating tails===
{{Main|Autotomy}}
[[Geckos]], [[skinks]], and some other lizards that are captured by the tail will shed part of the tail structure through a process called [[autotomy]] and thus be able to flee. The detached tail will continue to thrash, creating a deceptive sense of continued struggle and distracting the predator's attention from the fleeing prey animal. The detached tails of [[leopard gecko]]s can wiggle for up to 20 minutes. The tail grows back in most species, but some, like crested geckos, lose their tails for the rest of their lives.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Marshall |first1=Michael |title=Gecko's amputated tail has life of its own |magazine=[[New Scientist]] |department=Zoologger |series=Life |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21375-zoologger-geckos-amputated-tail-has-life-of-its-own.html#.U_G4O0HcySI |access-date=August 18, 2014}}</ref> In many species the tails are of a separate and dramatically more intense color than the rest of the body so as to encourage potential predators to strike for the tail first. In the [[Tiliqua rugosa|shingleback skink]] and some species of geckos, the tail is short and broad and resembles the head, so that the predators may attack it rather than the more vulnerable front part.<ref name="pianka">{{Cite book | last1 = Pianka | first1 = Eric R. | last2 = Vitt | first2 = Laurie J. | year = 2003 | title = Lizards: Windows to the evolution of diversity | edition = 1 | series = Organisms and Environments | volume = 5 | publisher = University of California Press | isbn = 978-0-520-23401-7 | url = https://archive.org/details/lizardswindowsto00pian }}</ref>

Reptiles that are capable of shedding their tails can partially [[regeneration (biology)|regenerate]] them over a period of weeks. The new section will however contain cartilage rather than bone, and will never grow to the same length as the original tail. It is often also distinctly discolored compared to the rest of the body and may lack some of the external sculpting features seen in the original tail.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alibardi |first1=Lorenzo |title=Morphological and Cellular Aspects of Tail and Limb Regeneration in Lizards |chapter=Regeneration in Reptiles and Its Position Among Vertebrates |series=Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology |year=2010 |volume=207 |pages=iii, v-x, 1–109 |publisher=Springer |location=Heidelberg, DE |isbn=978-3-642-03733-7 |pmid=20334040 |doi=10.1007/978-3-642-03733-7_1}}</ref>