Visual abilities to discriminate between spatial and color stimuli was studied, which is ecologically significant for reptiles. Namely: the behavior of slow-warm lizards in a Tshaped maze was investigated in visual discrimination between red and green color tones and sizes of geometric figures of a round shape. The main behavioral characteristics of decisionmaking were analyzed when choosing between possible options: a percentage of erroneous choices, time of choice and a number of lizards’ turns towards alternative ways in the maze, leading to comparable stimuli, before choosing one of them. In case of color discrimination, all the three named behavior characteristics were minimal, while in case of the figures sizes discrimination these values were higher. Thus, discrimination of red and green colors was more successful and less difficult than discrimination of round-shaped geometric figures sizes in the lizards.

Zhelankin Roman Viktorovich, Junior Research Scientist, All-Russian Research Institute – of Integrated Fish Farming Branch of Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry named after Academy Member L. K. Ernst, 24, Sergeev st., Vorovsky settl, Noginsky district, Moscow region, 142460, Russian Federation, e-mail: zhelankin86@mail.ru

Skotnikova Irina Grigorevna, Doctor of Sciences (Psychology), Leading Researcher Institute of Psychology RAS, 13, Yaroslavskaya st., Moscow, 129366, Russian Federation, e-mail: iris236@ya.ru

Selivanova Liubov Andreevna, Candidate of Sciences (Psychology), Junior Research Scientist, A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, 33, Leninsky Prospect, Moscow, 119071, Russian Federation, e-mail: lyubov.selivanova@gmail.com

Zhelankin R.V., Skotnikova I.G., Selivanova L.A. Discrimination of three kinds of visual stimuli by slow-worm lizards (Anguis fragilis). The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Psychology, 2021, vol. 36, pp. 16-37. https://doi.org/10.26516/2304-1226.2021.36.16 (in Russian)

Anokchin P.K. Filosofskie aspekty teorii funkcionalnykh sistem [Philosophical aspects of the Functional Systems Theory]. Eds. Konstantinov F.V., Lomov B.F., Shvyrkov V.B. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1978, 399 p. (in Russian).

Vasil'yeva N.A., Chabovskiy A.V. Prinyatiye reproduktivnykh re-sheniy v kontekste “bystrogo” zhiznennogo tsikla (na primere zholtogo suslika Spermophilus fulvus [Reproductive decisions making in the context of a “fast” life cycle (on the example of the yellow ground squirrel Spermophilusfulvus]. Zhurnal obshchey biologii [Journal of General Biology], 2017, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 3-14 (in Russian).

Vdovin A.S., Ivanova-Djatlova A.Ju., Okshtejn I.L. Struktura obshhih form povedenija u treh vidov dnevnyh jashheric [The structure of behavior general forms in the three species of diurnal lizards]. Voprosy gerpetologii [Issuses of Gerpetology. Proceedings of the 1Yth Congress of the Gerpetology Association after A.M. Nikolskii]. Saint Petersburg, Russkaja kollekcija Publ., 2011, pp. 50-55 (in Russian).

Zhelankin R.V. Osobennosti prinjatiya resheniya u dvukch vidov reptilii v zadachakch zritel'nogo razlicheniya [Features of decision making in two species of reptiles in visual discrimination tasks]. Kognitivnaya nauka v Moskve: novie issledovaniya [Cognitive science in Moscow: new research. The Conference Proceedings]. Ed. by Pechenkovoi E.V., Falikman M.V. Moscow, 2019, pp. 173-177 (in Russian).

Karamjan A.I., Sergeev B.F., Sollertinskaja T.N. Obrazovanie vremennyh svjazej pri sochetanii “indifferentnyh” razdrazhitelej u reptilij [Temporary connections forming in case of “indifferent” stimuli combination in reptiles]. Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deyatel'nosti [Journal of Higher Nervous Activity after I.P. Pavlov], 1964, no. 4, pp. 626-634 (in Russian).

Krushinskiy L.V. Biologicheskiye osnovy rassudochnoy deyatelnosti: Evolyutsionnyy i fiziologo-geneticheskiy aspekty povedeniya [Biological bases of rational mind activity: Evolutionary and physiological and genetic aspects of behavior]. Moscow, Librokom Publ., 2009, 272 p.

Krushinskiy L.V., Zorina Z.A. Novyy metod otsenki rassudochnoy deyatelnosti ptits [A new method for birds’ rational activity assessing]. Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deyatelnosti im. I.P. Pavlova [I.P. Pavlov Journal of Higher Nervous Activity (Cited in PubMed as Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat I.P. Pavlova)], 1982, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 895-900 (in Russian).

Ochinskaja E.I. O sposobnosti k ekstrapolyatsii u kaimanov [On the ability to extrapolate in caimans]. Zhurnal vysshej nervnoj deyatelnosti Zhurnal vysshei nervnoi deyatelnosti im. I. P. Pavlova [I.P. Pavlov Journal of Higher Nervous Activity (Cited in PubMed as Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat I P Pavlova)], 1988, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 174-175 (in Russian).

Anokhin P.K. (ed.) Problemy prinyatiia resheniya [Problems of Decision Making]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1976, 139 p. (in Russian).

Safarov H.M. Ekologiya i fiziologiya vysshei nervnoi deyatelnosti reptilii [Ecology and physiology of reptiles’ higher nervous activity]. Dushanbe, Donish Publ., 1990, 227 p. (in Russian).

Skotnikova I.G. Prinyatiye resheniya – klyuchevoye zveno psikhicheskoy deyatel'nosti [Decision making is a key link in mental activity]. Razrabotka ponyatiy v sovremennoy psikhologii [Development of concepts in modern psychology]. Ed. by Zhuravlev A.L., Sergiyenko Ye.A. Moscow, Institut psikchologii RAN Publ., 2021, vol. 3 (in Russian) (in print).

Skotnikova I.G., Zhelankin R.V. Prinjatie resheniia pri vybore al'ternativ povedeniya: pilotazhnoe sravnenie kcharakteristik, poluchennykch u zhivotnykch i cheloveka [Decision making when choosing behavioral alternatives: pilot comparison of characteristics obtained in animals and humans]. Fundamentalnye i prikladnye issledovaniya v sovremennoi psikchologii [Fundamental and applied research in modern psychology]. Eds. Zhuravljov A.L., Koltsova V.A. Moscow, Institut psikchologii RAN Publ., 2017, pp. 541–551 (in Russian).

Kchvatov I.A., Sokolov A.Ju., Haritonov A.N. Uchet granits sobstvennogo tela scinkami Tiliqua gigas [Boundaries of the own body taking into account in Skinks Tiliqua Eksperimentalnaya psihologiya [Experimental Psychology], 2016, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 54-71 (in Russian).

Shendyapin V.M., Skotnikova I.G. Modelirovanie prinyatiya resheniya i uverennosti v sensornykch zadachakch [Modeling of decision making and confidence in sensory tasks]. Moscow, Institut psikchologii RAN Publ., 2015, 201 p. (in Russian)

Barabanov V.M., Gulimova V.I., Berdiev R.K., Saveliev S.V. Individual features of play behavior in thick-toed geckos in weightlessness and normal gravity conditions. Life Sciences in Space Research, 2019, vol. 22, pp. 38-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2019.07.002

Blumstein D., Bouskila A. Assessment and decision making in animals: a mechanistic model underlying behavioral flexibility can prevent ambiguity. Oikos, 1996, no. 77, pp. 569-576.

Budaev S., Jørgensen C., Mangel M., Eliassen S., Giske J. Decision-Making from the Animal Perspective: Bridging Ecology and Subjective Cognition. Fronties in Ecology and Evolution, 2019, vol. 7, pp. 1-14.

Clark R.W. Public information for solitary foragers: Timber rattlesnakes use conspecific chemical cues to select ambush sites. Behavioral Ecology, 2007, vol. 18, is. 2, pp. 487-490.

Cooper W.E., Sherbrooke J.W.C. Plesiomorphic escape decisions in cryptic horned lizards (Phrynosoma) having highly derived antipredatory defenses. Ethology, 2010, vol. 116(10), pp. 920-928.

Davies A., Nicol C., Persson M., Radford A. Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Finely Balanced Decision-Making in Chickens. PLoS ONE, 2014. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0108809

de Lanuza G.P., Font E. Ultraviolet vision in lacertid lizards: evidence from retinal structure, eye transmittance, SWS1 visual pigment genes and behavior. Journal of Experimental Biology, 2014, vol. 217, is. 16, pp. 2899-2909.

Dill L.M. Animal decision making and its ecological consequences: the future of aquatic ecology and behavior. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1987, no. 65, pp. 803-811.

Krochmal A.R., Place A.J., La Duc T.J., Roth T.C. Phylogenetic patterns in learning and decision making in pit vipers. Animal Behavior, 2018, no. 145, pp. 117–123.

Miletto Petrazzini E., Fraccaroli I., Gariboldi F., Agrillo C., Bisazza A., Bertolucci C., Foà A. Quantitative abilities in a reptile (Podarcis sicula). Biology Letters, 2017, pp. 1-4.

Mueller-Paul J., Wilkinson A., Hall G., Huber L. Radial-Arm-Maze Behavior of the Red-Footed Tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 2012, vol. 126, no. 3, pp. 305-317.

Smith P., Ratcliff R. Psychology and neurobiology of simple decisions. Trends in neuroscience, 2004, vol. 27, is. 3, pp. 161-168.

Szabo B., Noble D.W. A., Byrne R.W., Tait D.S., Whiting M.J. Subproblem learning and reversal of a multidimensional visual cue in a lizard: evidence for behavioral flexibility? Animal Behavior, 2018, vol. 144, pp. 17-26.

Takenaka N., Yokoyama S. Mechanisms of spectral tuning in the RH2 pigments of Tokay gecko and American chameleon. Gene, 2007, vol. 399, is. 1, pp. 26-32. Zuri I., Bull C.M. The use of visual cues for spatial orientation in the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2000, vol. 78, no. 4, pp. 515-520.