Content uploaded by Leonardo B. Ribeiro
Author content
All content in this area was uploaded by Leonardo B. Ribeiro on Aug 01, 2014
Content may be subject to copyright.
A preview of the PDF is not available
Tropidurus semitaeniatus (NCN). Drinking behavior
Figures
Figures - uploaded by Leonardo B. Ribeiro
Author content
All figure content in this area was uploaded by Leonardo B. Ribeiro
Content may be subject to copyright.
... Em diversos momentos de nossa observação foi registrado o consumo de água pelos lagartos. Tal comportamento já foi observado em outras espécies de lagartos heliófilas (Ribeiro & Freire, 2009). ...
The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of Cnemidophorus abaetensis as disperser of Byrsonima microphylla in the restinga of Abaeté, Salvador, Bahia.
... In fact, the only study mentioning the foraging behavior of T. hispidus was conducted in the Amazon region of Brazil (VITT et al. 1996). In addition, the role of T. semitaeniatus as a seed disperser in the Caatinga (state of Rio Grande do Norte) and the drinking behavior of this species (RIBEIRO & FREIRE 2009b) were described. ...
In this study, we performed field observations of 38 and 84 specimens of the lizards Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825), respectively, inhabiting a Caatinga in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil, in order to describe the foraging behavior, measure the foraging intensity (number of movements, time spent stationary, distance traveled and number of attacks on preys) and investigate the effects of seasonality on the foraging strategies of these two species of lizards. During the dry season, both species showed no significant differences in foraging intensity. In the wet season, on the other hand, only the distance traveled was similar for both species. Tropidurus semitaeniatus displayed a larger mean number of movements (9.8 ± 1.2) and attacks on preys (1.7 ± 0.3) when compared to T. hispidus (3.0 ± 0.8 moves; 0.3 ± 0.1 attacks). Additionally, mean time spent stationary was significantly longer for T. hispidus (596.6 ± 1.0 seconds) than for T. semitaeniatus (587 ± 2.1 seconds). Results suggest that the low number of movements and short distance traveled (maximum of 1000 cm during 10-minute intervals) are consistent with the categorization of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus as sit-and-wait foragers. Given our results, we conclude that both species co-exist under limiting conditions during the dry season, with similar foraging behavior and similar rates of foraging intensity, segregating with respect to these variables in the wet season.
... In relation to behavior, the only study addressing foraging was carried out in the Amazon region of Brazil for T. hispidus . In addition, the role of T. semitaeniatus as a seed disperser (RibeiRo et al., 2008), drinking and thermoregulatory behaviors (RibeiRo & fReiRe, 2009a;RibeiRo & fReiRe, 2010), as well as the reproductive cycle of this species (RibeiRo et al., 2010) were described in the caatinga. ...
This study aimed to analyze the seasonal variation in diet composition and foraging behavior of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and T. semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825), as well as measurement of the foraging intensity (number of moves, time spent stationary, distance traveled and number of attacks on prey items) in a caatinga patch on the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Hymenoptera/Formicidae and Isoptera predominated in the diet of both species during the dry season. Opportunistic predation on lepidopteran larvae, coleopteran larvae and adults, and orthopteran nymphs and adults occurred in the wet season; however, hymenopterans/Formicidae were the most important prey items. The number of food items was similar between lizard species in both seasons; however the overlap for number of prey was smaller in the wet season. Preys ingested by T. hispidus during the wet season were also larger than those consumed by T. semitaeniatus. Seasonal comparisons of foraging intensity between the two species differed, mainly in the wet season, when T. hispidus exhibited less movement and fewer attacks on prey, and more time spent stationary if compared to T. semitaeniatus. Although both lizards are sit-and-wait foragers, T. semitaeniatus is more active than T. hispidus. The diet and foraging behavior of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus overlap under limiting conditions during the dry season, and are segregative factors that may contribute to the coexistence of these species in the wet season.
This study examines how two species of diurnal lizards (Tropidurus semitaeniatus and T. hispidus, Tropiduridae) use spatial, trophic and temporal resources in the Conservation Unit of Monumento Natural Grota do Angico, Poço Redondo, Sergipe (Brazil). Both species were mostly active during sunny days, with a reduction in activity during the hottest hours, and showed a preference for rocks, using rock crevices as main shelter. Tropidurus hispidus is the larger species as measured with SVL, and the species did not markedly differ in overall body shape. Both species mostly predated ants, insect larvae and termites. The head morphologies of T. semitaeniatus and T. hispidus are better adapted for the ingestion of larger and longer prey, respectively. Tropidurus semitaeniatus individuals modified their food intake during periods of higher rainfall, possibly to avoid competition with T. hispidus. Despite the high overlap in the use of space, time and diet, the coexistence of the two species is facilitated through resources strategies that minimise the negative effects of competition.
Key words: dry forest, ecology, lizards, resource partitioning, sympatry
Composition, species diversity and resource usage in terms of space and time were evaluated for the
lizard community of the Ecological Station of the Seridó (ESEC Seridó), Rio Grande do Norte. An observation
area of 150 m × 150 m (2.25 ha) was delimited and surveyed monthly in alternate turns (morning, afternoon and
night) for three consecutive days from April to October 2011, covering dry and rainy seasons. Fourteen species
belonging to eight families were recorded, being Tropidurus semitaeniatus the most abundant. Seasonality
influenced species richness and abundance. Regarding habitat usage, Lygodactylus klugei was the most generalist
species, while Phyllopezus periosus, P. pollicaris and T. semitaeniatus were specialists, showing affinity for rocky
formations. About microhabitat usage, the most generalist species was T. hispidus and the most specialized was
L. klugei . Ten of the recorded species have diurnal habits and four are nocturnal. The space and time usage
profiles of the dominant species corroborated data obtained in previous autoecological studies conducted in the
same area and suggest a pattern of resource usage by these species in the ESEC Seridó.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any references for this publication.