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Javier Abalos

@abalosaurus.bsky.social
330 followers 871 following 83 posts

I cannot be reborn as a velociraptor, but I can study lizard behaviour and coloration. Close enough.

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Reposted by Javier Abalos
ASAB @asab.org · 22/09/2026
🦎Wall lizards! 💆Enrichment! 😨Corticosterone! ☺️Welfare! Our #EditorsChoice for the #AnimalBehaviourJournal: "Ethologically informed enrichment improves behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare in a captive lizard" Read at doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123692
Screenshot of an article: 
Animal Behaviour Date: September 2026 Article: 123692 Volume: Volume 239 Ethologically informed enrichment improves behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare in a captive lizard
Alicia Bartolomé, Rupert Palme, Sabine Macho-Maschler, Pau Carazo, Enrique Font
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
New reptile welfare paper by @bartolomealicia.bsky.social Captive lizards provided with three different enrichments (structural, nutritional, chemosensory) reduced their abnormal behaviours and their "stress hormone" levels in their poop! 🦎 #animalwelfare www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Thanks for the mention but i think it started even before, with Guillem noticing the odd white lizard when speccing thousands of them in Pyrenees...it been a long journey and we should all celebrate! Huge win, @premdaguilar.bsky.social !
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Journal of Experimental Zoology A @jexpzoo-a.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Lizards and the colors we can’t see! 🦎✨ Juvenile Podarcis muralis undergo ontogenetic color changes that are invisible to humans but perceptible to conspecifics, likely functioning as social signals. #Herpetology onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Quentin Horta @quentinevo.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
It is out, it is out! Our study on neural crest cells and micro to macroevolution in lizard skull 🦎
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
The Conversation UK @uk.theconversation.com · 02/12/2025
High-energy particles streaming through space can damage DNA and increase cancer risk, but antioxidants, tardigrades and hibernation could help astronauts make the journey safely.
tcnv.link
Before trips to Mars, we need better protection from cosmic rays
High-energy particles streaming through space can damage DNA and increase cancer risk, but antioxidants, tardigrades and hibernation could help astronauts make the journey safely.
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Evolution Letters @evolletters.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
How does development shape skull evolution? In lizards, neural crest–derived skull bones drive rapid sexually selected shape change within species but show long-term constraint, revealing developmental bias linking micro- and macroevolution. Image Credit: Wikimedia academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Science Magazine @science.org · 09/01/2026
Two new Science studies on lizard coloration reveal how a delicate interplay of genetics, environment, and social dynamics can either preserve or erase polymorphic diversity in species. 📄: scim.ag/4srYKHi 📄: scim.ag/4qCcsWn
Throat coloration in common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). From top to bottom: White morph with the characteristic green and black coloration of the nigriventris syndrome; White morph with the ancestral brown phenotype; yellow and orange morphs from populations where individuals show varying expression of the nigriventris characters.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
🧪 Check this if you are interested in the convoluted evolution of lacertid colours. Yes, I know, we missed a unique opportunity opportunity to call the phenomenon "Chromatic Barrier of the Appennines", which totally sounds like a badass DnD spell. #evolution #colsci #lizard #sexualselection
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Rob Sica @robsica.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
🦚🔪"The Handicap Principle [HP] is the only theory in modern biology to our knowledge that is anti-Darwinian... The time is long overdue to reject HP/costly signalling paradigm... the longest non-Darwinian detour in the history of modern biology"
academic.oup.com
A general signalling theory: why honest signals are explained by trade-offs rather than costs or handicaps
Abstract. Honest signals have long posed a challenge for evolutionary biologists to explain. Here we propose a general Darwinian theory of signalling, Sign
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Se acaba de publicar cierto artículo de la ganadora del I concurso de comunicación científica de la @ucciuv.bsky.social, @bartolomealicia.bsky.social #ciencia #divulgacion #reptiles #bienestaranimal theconversation.com/reptiles-los...
theconversation.com
Reptiles, los grandes olvidados: cómo mejorar su bienestar ayuda a cambiar su mala imagen
Tenemos una percepción estereotipada de los reptiles como animales extraños y poco inteligentes que no se corresponde con la realidad y que puede influir en el trato deficiente que reciben en cautivid...
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 19/10/2025
Hi Eryn, I would love to be added to the evolutionary biologist feed. I am Javier Abalos, postdoc researcher on lizard coloration and behaviour. Evidence: scholar.google.es/citations?us...
scholar.google.es
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Today I found out that the sex pheromones of Aplysia (a genus of extremely large sea slugs) are called: • Enticin 🌶️ • Attractin 👁️🫦👁️ • Temptin 🌺 • Seductin 🔥 And I find that wonderful. Please vote for your favorite. Credits to Trystam Wyatt's book on Pheromones and Animal Behavior. #ethology
An Aplysia sea slug, also called sea hares
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
Thanks for this thread, what an eye-opening funny study. When will the plot stop thickening with evolution??
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
James T. Stroud @jameststroud.bsky.social · 14/10/2025
🦎THREAD: We just published something wild in @asn-amnat.bsky.social - lizards missing entire limbs not only survive, but some appear to actually thrive in the wild?! Let me tell you about the "three-legged pirate" lizards 🏴‍☠️ [Paper: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/... ] (1/n)
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Check this piece published on @theguardian.com featuring the awesome work of an international team (pics by @rgarciaroa.bsky.social lens) on butterflies 🦋 coloration and deforestation 🌲🪓 in the Amazon As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
As forests are cut down, butterflies are losing their colours
The insects’ brilliant hues evolved in lush ecosystems to help them survive. Now they are becoming more muted to adapt to degraded landscapes – and they are not the only things dulling down
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Current Affairs @currentaffairs.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
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Jakob Woodall @jakob-woodall.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Round 4 of surveys for the Mt Lyell #salamander (Hydromantes platycephalus). We were able to sample 7 salamanders this time, including a juvenile! #herpetology #herps #amphibians
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Will Allen @wlallen.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
📢🦋 Our paper ‘Global selection on insect antipredator coloration’ is out and featured on the cover of @science.org We ran a huge experiment to find out how ecological context favours camouflage and warning colouration as antipredator strategies. 1/6 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A white-fronted bee-eater (Merops bullockoides) decides whether to consume a warningly colored white-barred acraea butterfly (Telchinia encedon). Photo (c) Mike Rowe
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
Many wall lizards briefly sport bright blue tails as predator decoys after hatching. Our new study shows their throats and bellies also change color, yet at wavelengths invisible to humans! Could other species, too, undergo such cryptic shifts? @uv.es @ucciuv.bsky.social tinyurl.com/4rjfmde9 🧪🦎
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Eric Gangloff @eric-gangloff.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
Thrilled to see *National Geographic* highlight the wall lizards living in Cincinnati and our research on these little guys! www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/arti... #WalliesWorld
nationalgeographic.com
10 lizards were smuggled into Cincinnati in a sock. Now there are tens of thousands.
Native to Europe, common wall lizards are growing bigger, faster, and more resilient in Ohio. Scientists say the city itself may be driving their evolution.
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Royal Society Publishing @royalsocietypublishing.org · 30/09/2025
Watch #BiologyLetters author Avery Maune talk about new research revealing that urbanization can reshape social behaviour in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis): cassyni.com/events/3Hp2U... #AnimalBehaviour #ethology
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Protección frente al alarmismo agrario: la tortuga mora, rehén del ruido político en la Región de Murcia www.eldiario.es/1_c103ac?utm...
eldiario.es
Protección frente al alarmismo agrario: la tortuga mora, rehén del ruido político en la Región de Murcia
El plan de conservación de esta especie ha encendido un fuego cruzado en el campo: mientras científicos y ecologistas reclaman medidas urgentes para salvarla, Vox agita el miedo entre los agricultores...
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Miguel Clavero @chikichanka.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
ESTO ES IMPORTANTÍSIMO Euskadi suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula ante la situación crítica de la especie Un paso crucial para lo conservación de la anguila, tomada en el territorio donde su consumo tiene más arraigo @miteco.gob.es y otras CCAA, os toca www.europapress.es/euskadi/noti...
europapress.es
Gobierno Vasco suspende la campaña de la pesca de la angula de 2025-2026 ante la situación "crítica" de la especie
El Departamento de Alimentación, Desarrollo Rural, Agricultura y Pesca del Gobierno Vasco se ha reunido...
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Aquí podéis encontrar una nota de prensa sobre nuestro ultimo artículo. Muchas gracias al equipo de @ucciuv.bsky.social #divulgacion #lagartijas #color #desarrollo www.uv.es/uvweb/univer...
uv.es
Universidad de Valencia
La UV, fundada en 1499, es una de las universidades más antiguas de España. Es una universidad pública, moderna e innovadora orientada a la docencia y a la investigación en casi todos los ámbitos del ...
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Methods in Ecology and Evolution @methodsinecoevol.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
📖Published📖 Roemer et al. propose a comprehensive evaluation of the limits and possibilities of passive acoustic monitoring of bats, identifying knowledge gaps and practice barriers, and highlighting novel ideas that may revolutionise practices🦇👇 buff.ly/l8DGN7X 🌍 🧪
Influence of weather conditions, prey size and abundance, flight height and dialects on population trends, habitat selection and the spatial distribution inferred from bat acoustic activity obtained with passive acoustic monitoring. The dashed arrows represent possible biases that should be investigated in the future.
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Pablo Macias Torres @pablomaciastorres.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
After a lot of time spent in the darkness of the wind tunnel, the results finally see the light. I'm very excited to share what will become the first chapter of my thesis. Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird www.cell.com/current-biol...
cell.com
Energy conversion efficiency peaks at intermediate flight speed in a migratory songbird
Using in vivo measurements of thrush nightingales flying in a wind tunnel, Macias-Torres et al. show that energy conversion efficiency varies with airspeed following a concave function, with a maximum...
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Our discovery reveals a hidden stage in lacertid colour development that reshapes how we understand animal coloration as a signal, reminding us how central development is in communication and sexual selection across nature.
A young Podarcis muralis lizard doubts before crossing a crevice using a grass blade as a bridge. The first of many challenges he will face growing up!
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
These colour changes may let juveniles avoid costly aggression or courting from adult males, while sparing adults wasted effort on non-competitors/immature mates. As lizards grow, greater colour differentiation may aid recognition and help stabilize social networks.
Adult Podarcis muralis lizards rest on top a log during a mesocosm experiment.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Could these changes be adaptive? Predation avoidance often explains juvenile colour shifts, but in P. muralis that’s unlikely. Instead, a social role seems more plausible: ventral colour is usually hidden, yet adults display throats & flanks in social encounters
Adult males of Lilford's wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) from the island of Aire, close to Menorca. Two males are facing each other on yop if a log while adopting a raised-body posture that exposes the UV-reflecting spots and acts as a threat behavioral display.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
By the end of their first year, most juveniles show adult-like ventral colours. But only some, mostly males, develop UV-blue spots on their flanks, and these look still very different from adult ones to conspecifics.
Ontogenetic changes in Podarcis muralis throat coloration. (A) Pie charts represent the proportions of juveniles showing different throat colors (UV+w = UV+white, UV−w = UV−white, oo = orange, yy = yellow, ow = orange–white, yo = yellow–orange) in September (t1; 3–4 weeks after hatching), and June–July (t2; 1 year after hatching). The three pie charts correspond to the full data set of 417 hatchlings measured at t1 (purple), the subset of 66 surviving juveniles measured as hatchlings at t1 (green), and these same juveniles measured as yearlings in t2 (yellow). (B) Reflectance spectra from the 62 surviving yearlings showing pure color morphs (solid lines and shaded area represent means ± SEM). The dashed purple line represents the average throat spectra of 417 hatchling lizards (similar to that of the 62 surviving yearlings when first measured, see central pie chart). Spectra have been normalized by subtracting the minimum reflectance of each spectrum at all wavelengths. (C) Mean and CI95 of the chromatic and achromatic distances (dS and dL respectively) between paired measurements of throat reflectance (i.e., within-individual hatchling-yearling contrasts), separated by yearling throat color. JND stands for “Just Noticeable Differences”. Two dashed lines at 1 and 3 JNDs represent two theoretical discriminability thresholds. If the confidence interval of a point includes a discriminability threshold, the two colors are not distinguishable at this threshold according to receiver cone sensitivities and relative abundance.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
We found: 🦎 Hatchlings look white to us, but reflect far more UV than adults. 🦎 This “UV+white” is distinct and visible to lizards. 🦎 Ventral colours and UV flank spots develop out of sync. 🦎 Males and females diverge in timing and pattern.
Ontogeny of ventral coloration in Podarcis muralis. (A) Representative photographs of ventral coloration in a hatchling lizard 2–3 weeks after hatching (left), and in four yearlings re-captured in March 2019 (7 months after hatching). SVL stands for snout to vent length in mm. (B) Young male of P. muralis showing incipient UV-blue and melanin-based black patches in the outer ventral scales (OVS). (C) UV photograph of a hatchling P. muralis lizard showing UV+white color in its ventral surface. (D) Paired UV and visible photographs of the same subadult female (< 1 year) showing UV−white in the throat and UV+white in the belly. The difference is only apparent in the UV image. Photographs in C and D were obtained with a full-spectrum camera and two filters, each transmitting light either in the visible (400–700 nm) or the near-UV (320–380 nm) range. Brighter areas in the UV image have higher UV reflectance (i.e., hatchling ventral surface and female belly).
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
In our “new” study (it’s from 2018, research goes slowly…), we tracked wall lizards from hatching to one year of age. We reared them in semi-natural conditions, measured their colours using spectrophotometry, and modeled how other lizards perceive them.
Juvenile common wall lizard hatching from the egg.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Wall lizards (Podarcis if you're feeling fancy) are famed for dazzling color diversity matched by a UV-sensitive vision system. The widespread P. muralis shows ventral & lateral colors—including UV-reflecting spots and alternative throat colors— which likely play a role in social communication
Coloration in common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis). a) Alternative throat colours in males and females. b) Detail of UV-reflecting spots in the outer ventral scales. Extracted from Abalos et al., 2020 (https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6659)
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Spectrophotometry shows that UV colours are widespread in nature, and visual models can help to reveal its meaning. UV often acts as a private communication channel invisible to many animals. Flowers may seem flamboyant to us, but their colours are tuned to dazzle bees.
Left, conventional photography of a flower. Right, photography of the same flower obtained with a full spectrum camera equipped with a filter that only transmits light in the UV waveband. Brighter (yellow) areas show higher UV reflectance. Animals with UV vision see a difference in coloration between the center of the flower and the petals that we can't see.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Understanding the function and mechanisms of ontogenetic colour changes (OCC) is a central goal in ethology. A bit of a challenge, though. Researchers must follow individuals as they grow, and some changes may slip by entirely if they occur in wavelengths beyond human vision.
Contrast of a tiger against a green vegetation background when viewed by their typical prey (a; deers and other cervids) and to a human viewer (b). Extracted from Fennell et al., 2019 (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2019.0183)
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Growing up is tough. The world juveniles face often looks very different from the one awaiting adults. Many animal species deal with these shifting challenges by changing colour. Think of wild boar piglets losing their striped pyjamas, or bright-fluffed chicks maturing into duller adult plumage.
Wild boar mother, showing a much duller coloration than her piglets, which show a striped brown and yellow pattern.
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
🧪 New paper out! Growing up, wall lizards undergo a UV-visible “awkward phase” (who doesn’t?) that we can’t see—but they can. These ontogenetic color changes may mediate juvenile–adult interactions by delaying the onset of adult social signals. doi.org/10.1002/jez.... #colsci #lizard #ontogeny
doi.org
Cryptic Ontogenetic Changes in the Ventral Coloration of a Color Polymorphic Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
Wall lizards' ventral coloration undergoes cryptic ontogenetic color changes invisible without UV vision. We tracked wall lizards from hatching to one year of age. Spectrophotometry and visual modeli...
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
333 wolf packs in Spain, 12% increase from the previous census (>10y ago). Sadly, local governments are approving 20% culls (targeting adult mothers for extra damage, ofc). The official excuse: preventing food waste. I kid you not. #lobovivo #loboprotegido #wolf elpais.com/clima-y-medi...
elpais.com
El nuevo censo del lobo detecta 333 manadas en España, un aumento de 36 que no garantiza su futuro
Lejos de los 500 grupos necesarios para que sea viable genéticamente, el ministerio asegura que la especie está en “estado desfavorable” y que no se debería estar cazando
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Reposted by Javier Abalos
Cedric van den Berg @vancedberg.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
It's out! Read about how to combine advanced animal vision modelling and colour pattern analysis with comparative phylogenetic methods in arguably some of the most incredible critters in the ocean: doi.org/10.1111/1365.... Amazing work with amazing people! #colsci #micaToolbox #AnimalEcology
doi.org
Diel activity correlates with colour pattern morphology of heterobranch sea slugs
The authors show that daytime activity fundamentally shapes the appearance of prey animals to potential predators and that colour pattern phenotypes likely associated with visual signalling are predo....
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
La osadía de llamar cobarde a un toro (un animal social y doméstico) por rehuir el maltrato en la plaza. Pobre Antonio, quiere que los toros pongan de su parte en su sangriento espectáculo amañado. La tauromaquia, como los gladiadores: mejor en el cine y los cuadros, donde nadie sufre @elpais.com
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Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
Remember when you first learned about genetics at school? All those fascinating examples of human traits that are each apparently determined by just a single gene? Time to check in on some of your favourites to see how they’re doing. 🧬🧵🧪 1/n
Four images to illustrate some prominent single-gene myths. Top left shows a photograph of a person deftly rolling their tongue into a U-shape. Top right shows a photograph of a person’s ear, highlighting the shape and features of the earlobe and cartilage. Bottom left shows a close-up photograph of a person’s eye, with a vivid blue colouration. Bottom right shows a photograph of a person poised to write with their left hand on the blank white page of a spiral-bound notebook.
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Royal Society Publishing @royalsocietypublishing.org · 23/04/2025
Practical advice on variable selection and reporting using Akaike information criterion: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/... #ProcB #ecology
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British Ecological Society @britishecologicalsociety.org · 16/04/2025
📸Capturing Ecology 2025 is OPEN ⭐️Our renowned photography competition is back for another year, showcasing stories of ecological triumph, challenge and resilience. 📷@rgarciaroa.bsky.social
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 16/04/2025
Free-roaming cats threaten island biodiversity, yet countries like Spain and Italy only permit trap-neuter-release. While the authors offer valuable tools to improve management, persistent myths like “neutered cats don’t hunt” remain. No wonder Maltese lizards are vanishing—kudos to the authors!
Maltese wall lizard (Podarcis filfolensis) in the island of Filfla
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Lisandro Milocco @milocco.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
🚨 We're hiring! Fully funded Postdoc(s) in Systems Biology at Stockholm University & SciLifeLab — focus on predictive modeling in evolution and development. 📍 Stockholm 🕒 2+1 years 🔍 Details: su.varbi.com/en/what:job/... Please share!
su.varbi.com
Postdoctoral Fellow in Evolutionary Prediction
The Department of Zoology is one of the departments within the Faculty of Science and has approximately 80 employees including researchers, PhD students, and administrative staff. Research and educati
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 15/04/2025
Gracias por esta nota de prensa sobre nuestro último artículo, que incluye retrato de los hombres-lagarto iridiscentes de la UV! Link: zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/... #colsci #herpetology #lizard #visualmodels #sensoryecology #spectrophotometry
zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Intraspecific variation and detectability of iridescence in the dorsal coloration of a wall lizard
Wall lizards (genus Podarcis) show substantial intraspecific colour variation and iridescence, which may interact and affect overall colour appearance. Here, we set out to study iridescence in Podarc...
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Hi Andrew, I am a researcher working on animal coloration and behaviour, particularly I'm communication and social interactions in reptiles. Can I be added to the feed? scholar.google.es/citations?us...
scholar.google.es
Javier Abalos
‪Lund University, University of Valencia‬ - ‪‪Citado por 162‬‬ - ‪Colour signals‬ - ‪colour polymorphism‬ - ‪lizards‬ - ‪behaviour‬ - ‪alternative reproductive strategies‬
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
Thank you! ...although can we wait until the lizards die to get their brains? They need them :)
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Javier Abalos @abalosaurus.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
🧪 Lizards use jazz hands to de-escalate territorial disputes, supporting the idea that contest outcome hinges on real-time mutual assessment of motivation signals rather than developmetally-fixed proxies of fighting ability (i.e. quality signals). shorturl.at/DEIEd #ethology bsky.app/profile/abal...
shorturl.at
Behavioral threat and appeasement signals take precedence over static colors in lizard contests
Behavioral signals outweigh static color patches in determining the winner of territorial disputes. To understand what limits aggression in wall lizards, w
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