The short answer

Lizards do push-ups to communicate with other lizards and regulate their body temperature.

The long answer

Have you seen lizards doing push-ups before? If not, please enjoy this video of a lizard doing push-ups:

This behavior is quite common and is often seen in many species, such as geckos, anoles, and fence lizards. Lizards do push-ups for a variety of reasons, primarily related to communication and thermoregulation.

Let's start with what a lizard push-up might be communicating:

Lizard Push-Ups as Communication

"Hello, fellow lizard."

Lizards bob up and down as a visual cue to help other lizards notice them. Given their excellent camouflage, lizards might do an initial push-up when they spot another lizard. This behavior serves as a greeting or an acknowledgment, making it easier for the other lizard to spot them in their environment.

"Back off!"

Lizards doing push-ups is also a way to assert dominance or show territorial behavior. Similar to other animals that display strength, a lizard might do push-ups to look more intimidating. By moving up and down or performing push-ups, they tell other lizards to scram.

"Let's make lizard babies."

Lizards, such as anoles and other types, perform push-ups as part of their mating ritual. When a male lizard does push-ups, bobs its head, or flaps its neck skin, it could be trying to attract a female mate. This show of strength and agility is meant to display their fitness and desirability for reproduction.

Lizard Push-Ups for Physical Benefits

While lizard push-ups are a form of communication, they also have physiological advantages. Since lizards are ectothermic (cold-blooded), they can’t regulate their body temperature internally like humans. By moving up and down or doing what looks like push-ups, they increase airflow under their bodies, helping them cool off on hot days. Additionally, the repetitive movement can improve blood flow, prevents cramps, and keeps their muscles strong.

🧠 Bonus brain points

In Spanish, the word for "push-ups" is "lagartijas," which is also the word for "lizards." So, if you see a lizard doing push-ups in the sun, you could say it's doing "lagartijas."

Sources

Haines, B. (2022, September 14). Why Do Lizards Do Push Ups? 4 Reasons for This Weird Behavior. Storyteller Travel. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://storyteller.travel/why-do-lizards-do-push-ups/

jaytaos. (2012, June 22). Lizard pushups! YouTube. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQAJaBRRcIw

University of California, Riverside. (2021, June 14). How lizards communicate with their own species. UC Riverside Palm Desert Center. Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://palmdesert.ucr.edu/calnatblog/2021/06/14/how-lizards-communicate-their-own-species

Why Do Lizards Do Push-Ups (In-Depth Look). Coachella Valley Preserve. (2021, November 22). Retrieved January 14, 2023, from https://coachellavalleypreserve.org/why-do-lizards-do-push-ups/