Heliobolus lugubris explained

Heliobolus lugubris, also known commonly as the bushveld lizard, mourning racerunner, or the black and yellow sand lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Lacertidae. The species is found in Southern Africa: southern Angola, Namibia, Botswana, southwestern Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, and south-central to northern South Africa.

Mimicry

Juveniles of H. lugubris are black with light spots and move with a hunched gait, mimicking the appearance of Anthia ground beetles. This mimicry is thought to discourage predation, as the beetles spray formic acid as a defense mechanism and are thus less appealing targets for predators. This is one of very few recorded examples of a vertebrate mimicking an invertebrate.[1]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Natural selection for juvenile lizards mimicking noxious beetles . RB . Huey . ER . Pianka . . 195 . 4274 . 201–203 . January 1977 . 10.1126/science.831272 . 831272. 1977Sci...195..201H .