A lizard pretending it is dead while being photographed

Trinidad hex-scaled lizard pretending to be dead while being photographed. Photo by Renoir Auguste

Death feigning (thanatosis) is an adaptive defensive behaviour seen in various animals, perhaps quite famously associated with opossums, but it has also been recorded in a variety of herpetofauna, including frogs, snakes and lizards.

A local example can be found here in Trinidad and Tobago with the hex-scaled lizard (Bachia trinitatis). This small (~ 6cm long) fossorial lizard is found in Trinidad and Tobago, mainly in leaf litter. Sometimes the small limbs may make persons confused this lizard for a worm.

In June 2016, one such individual was caught and brought back for closer inspection to photograph. While photographing it, the lizard rolled over to its side and pretended to be dead. After a couple minutes, and with the camera not too close, it put itself back upright. 

This may be the first documentation for this species exhibiting death feigning behaviour and it can be found here in Trinidad and Tobago. For more information about this lizard and other interesting facts about local wildlife, be sure to check out " A field guide to the amphibians and reptiles of Trinidad and Tobago". 

Source of information:

§  Auguste, R.J. 2019. Natural History Notes: Bachia trinitatis (Trinidad hex-scaled bachia). Defensive behavior. Herpetological Review 50(3):570.

Trinidad hex-scaled lizard (Bachia trinitatis) not playing dead. Photo Renoir Auguste