Antipredatory reaction of leopard gecko Eublepharis macularius to snake predators

4 ABSTRACT If there is an innate, specific idea of the natural animal predator, antipredatory reactions should occur even the subjects are kept in captivity for several generations. An ideal subject for this type of research is the leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius), an animal which is kept in captivity for several generations (there are also several wild subjects in our laboratory). Its primary enemy in rural Pakistan is the snake. The goal of this thesis was to explore the leopard gecko's antipredatory behaviour, to the snake predators combining sympatric and alopatric behaviour, to other ecological factors. The predators are: Spalerosophis diadema (sympatric, reptile-vorous), Elaphe q. quatuorlineata (allopatric, prefers warm-blooded chordates, but also reptile- vorous), Hemorrhois hippocrepis (allopatric, lizards are its main prey), Lampropeltis getula californiae (alopatric, reptile-vorous), Eryx johnii (sympatric, eats young rodents and reptile), Gongylophis colubrinus (allopatric, eats young rodents and reptile) and Malpolon monspessulanus (allopatric, is moderately dangerous for leopard geckos). As an control was chosen Pseudopus apodus (native to Iran, eats invertebrates, small rodents and reptile). Sampling tests were performed with these leopard geckos. It was observed if the subject prefers..