Editing Reptile (section)

===Camouflage and warning===
[[File:Phelsuma dubia edit1.jpg|thumb|A camouflaged ''[[Dull day gecko|Phelsuma deubia]]'' on a palm frond]]

Reptiles tend to avoid confrontation through [[camouflage]]. Two major groups of reptile predators are birds and other reptiles, both of which have well-developed color vision. Thus the skins of many reptiles have [[Crypsis|cryptic]] coloration of plain or mottled gray, green, and brown to allow them to blend into the background of their natural environment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reptile and amphibian defense systems |department=Animal behavior |type=resource |publisher=Teachervision.fen.com |url=http://www.teachervision.fen.com/animal-behavior/resource/8700.html |access-date=March 16, 2010}}</ref> Aided by the reptiles' capacity for remaining motionless for long periods, the camouflage of many snakes is so effective that people or domestic animals are most typically bitten because they accidentally step on them.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Nagel |first1=Salomé Susanna |date=October 2012 |title=Haemostatic function of dogs naturally envenomed by African puffadder (''Bitis arietans'') or snouted cobra (''Naja annulifera'') |degree=MMedVet |department=Companion Animal Clinical Studies |publisher=University of Pretoria |place=South Africa |page=66 |hdl=2263/25851 |url=https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/25851 |access-date=9 Feb 2023}}</ref>

When camouflage fails to protect them, [[blue-tongued skink]]s will try to ward off attackers by displaying their blue tongues, and the [[frill-necked lizard]] will display its brightly colored frill. These same displays are used in territorial disputes and during courtship.<ref name=Cogger>{{cite book |last=Cogger |first=Harold G. |year=1986 |title=Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia |publisher=Reed Books |location=Frenchs Forest, NSW |isbn=978-0-7301-0088-1 |page=238}}</ref> If danger arises so suddenly that flight is useless, crocodiles, turtles, some lizards, and some snakes hiss loudly when confronted by an enemy. [[Rattlesnakes]] rapidly vibrate the tip of the tail, which is composed of a series of nested, hollow beads to ward off approaching danger.

In contrast to the normal drab coloration of most reptiles, the lizards of the genus ''Heloderma'' (the [[Gila monster]] and the [[beaded lizard]]) and many of the [[coral snake]]s have high-contrast warning coloration, warning potential predators they are venomous.<ref>{{cite book |editor=Harris, Tim |display-editors=etal |year=2011 |title=North American Wildlife |publisher=Marshall Cavendish Reference |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-76147-938-3 |page=86, picture caption |quote=The bold patterns of the venomous gila monster are an example of warning coloration. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fU25LOYnVokC&q=venomous+gila+monster+warning+colors&pg=PA86 |access-date=August 18, 2014}}</ref> A number of non-venomous North American snake species have colorful markings similar to those of the coral snake, an oft cited example of [[Batesian mimicry]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Brodie, Edmund D., III |year=1993 |title=Differential avoidance of coral snake banded patterns by free-ranging avian predators in Costa Rica |journal=Evolution |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=227–235 |doi=10.1111/j.1558-5646.1993.tb01212.x |pmid=28568087 |jstor=2410131 |s2cid=7159917 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Brodie, Edmund D., III |author2=Moore, Allen J. |year=1995 |title=Experimental studies of coral snake mimicry: Do snakes mimic millipedes? |journal=Animal Behaviour |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=534–536 |doi=10.1006/anbe.1995.0072 |bibcode=1995AnBeh..49..534B |s2cid=14576682 }}</ref>