Do lizards use push-ups as a form of communication?

Lizards use "push ups" to attract attention in noisy environments, according to new research that used robotic lizards.

The robots (made to mimic the appearance and body language of live anole lizards) helped scientists confirm a long held theory that animals use grand gestures, such as the lizard push-up, and loud noises to get the attention of other members of their species in chaotic, noisy environments.

The lizards created exaggerated, eye-catching push-ups to grab attention before using head-bobbing gestures to communicate territorial and fitness claims, according to the study.

The lizards are more likely to do push-ups when visual obstructions or visual "noise," such as low light or blowing branches, would otherwise drown out the head-bobbing.

"They are actually changing their behavior to compensate for those [noises]," said Terry Ord (a research associate in evolution and ecology at the University of California in Davis).