HOW DO SLEEPY LIZARDS FIND EACH OTHER

During the spring, adult sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) form monogamous pairs that remain closely associated for extensive periods over an interval of 6-8 wk. After natural separations of hours to days, pairs reform. This paper describes observations of natural pairs, and of natural and experimental separation in the field. Sleepy lizards appear to use three mechanisms to relocate their partners. They either follow trails, use airborne signals, or search familiar sites. It is usually the male that seeks to relocate the female, but in several cases, females were observed to relocate their male partners.