The terrestrial reptile fauna of the Abrolhos Archipelago: species list and ecological aspects
Braz. j. biol
;
62(2): 285-291, May 2002. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-326200
RESUMO
We have studied the terrestrial reptile fauna of the Abrolhos Archipelago (a group of five islands located ca. 70 km off the southern coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil) and analyze here some of its ecological aspects such as diet, thermal ecology, activity, and some reproductive parameters. Three lizards comprise the archipelago's terrestrial reptile fauna: Tropidurus torquatus (Tropiduridae), Mabuya agilis (Scincidae), and Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae). The first two are diurnal and the latter is crepuscular/nocturnal (initiating activity at ca. 17:30). The activity period of T. torquatus extended from 5:30 to 18:30 h. Mean field body temperatures of active T. torquatus, M. agilis, and H. mabouia were, respectively, 34.0 ± 3.7øC (range 23.8-38.0øC; N = 75), 34.5 ± 2.2øC (range 30.8-37.0øC; N = 6), and 26.3 ± 1.1øC (range 24.8-28.0øC; N = 8). The predominant prey items in the diet of T. torquatus were ants, coleopterans, and hemipterans. In the diet of M. agilis, coleopterans were the most frequent prey items. For H. mabouia, the most important dietary items were orthopterans. Clutch size of T. torquatus averaged 4.1 ± 1.1 (range 2-6; N = 15) and was significantly related to female size (Rý = 0.618; p = 0.001; N = 15). Clutch size for H. mabouia was fixed (two) and mean litter size of the viviparous M. agilis was 3.3 ± 0.6 (range 3-4; N = 3). Tropidurus torquatus and H. mabouia deposit their eggs under rocks in the study area, with the former burying them but not the latter; in both species, more than one female often oviposit under the same rock
Full text:
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Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Behavior, Animal
/
Lizards
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
Braz. j. biol
Journal subject:
Biology
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro/BR
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