Lizards do push-ups primarily as a form of communication. They perform these push-ups mainly for two reasons: to show territorial dominance or as part of mating rituals. Push-ups help lizards display their strength and fitness to both intimidate rivals and attract mates.
Territorial Display
Many territorial lizard species use push-ups to warn other lizards to stay away from their territory, signaling their fitness and size without resorting to physical fights. Faster or more vigorous push-ups can act as a stronger threat, helping to avoid costly fights by displaying dominance visually.
Mating Rituals
During mating season, male lizards use push-ups to impress females by showing off their strength and health. Females may also do push-ups to signal their availability to males. Additionally, some species flex colorful body parts, like throat pouches, while doing push-ups to enhance their display.
Other Communication
Beyond territory and mating, push-ups can simply be a form of greeting or recognition between lizards. The behavior is a non-verbal language rich with nuance about individual status and intent in the lizard community. In summary, lizard push-ups are an important multi-purpose communication method to ward off threats, attract mates, and establish social interactions without physical confrontation.
