[Orientation without external orientation clues in reptiles (Hemidactylus frenatus Gekkonidae)].

Abstract

In a black-painted cylindric arena Geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus) are able to find their hiding place without the aid of external orientation clues. This proprioceptive knowledge of the position is independent of the azimuth of the actual position of head and body, but it is influenced by a passive turning of the reptile. These findings lead to the assumption that the receptors of the labyrinth participate in the endogeneous (idiothetic) course control.