Conspecific scent-marks may influence underground site selection by a fossorial reptile

Here, we investigated whether chemical cues (substrate scent-marks) from conspecifics affected underground site selection by the amphisbaenian Blanus cinereus. We first examined potential sex and size-related variations in lipophilic chemical compounds from precloacal gland secretions of this amphisbaenian. Then, we designed two different laboratory approaches to test (i) whether adult amphisbaenians selected or avoided loose substrates or semi-permanent galleries with scents from conspecifics and (ii) whether the sex and size of the conspecifics affected site selection.