Lizard Push-Ups

[deckardcanine]

When touring the Galapagos, I saw a funny sight:
The Albemarle lava lizard, possibly in fright,
Would do a set of push-ups, rather faster than a man,
Then walk a bit and do some more on other spots of sand.

I later learned that Spanish speakers often use a word
For push-ups, lagartijas, that I knew at once referred
To lizards, called lagartos, and it led me to suspect
That other lizards do it too, so finally, I checked.

They do, in part for reasons that I likely would have guessed:
To prove to other lizards which one’s muscles are the best,
Which surely must be better than a battle on a whim
And may impress potential mates (the males display more vim).

The push-ups also serve to call attention to one’s hues,
Not least upon the dewlap, which provide important clues
For health: A load of parasites will make the lizard duller.
More broadly, it gets noticed more by showing vibrant color.

Four species of anoles do the move at dusk and dawn.
We’re not sure why; it seems to mark the turf they’re lying on.
No other non-acoustic sign in use by bird or beast
Is known to correspond to when the sun is west or east.

But push-ups can be tiring, and they draw the eyes of foes
The lizards wouldn’t want to, and biologists suppose
To do it all the time would make the gesture lose its punch.
Perhaps they ought to switch it up; can lizards do a crunch?