Diet composition and morphological characters of the Peruvian bush anole Polychrus peruvianus in a northern Peruvian dry forest

AutorInnen:

Beuttner, A., Koch, C.

Erscheinungsjahr:

2019

Vollständiger Titel:

Analysis of diet composition and morphological characters of the little-known Peruvian bush anole Polychrus peruvianus (Noble, 1924) in a northern Peruvian dry forest

ZFMK-Autorinnen / ZFMK-Autoren:

Dr. Claudia Koch

Org. Einordnung:

Herpetologie

Publiziert in:

"leibniz" - Magazin der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft

Publikationstyp:

Zeitschriftenaufsatz

Keywords:

Iguania, bite force, ontogenetic change, foraging strategy, stomach contents, food niche, feeding behavior, Marañón river

Bibliographische Angaben:

Beuttner, A., Koch, C. (2019): Analysis of diet composition and morphological characters of the little-known Peruvian bush anole Polychrus peruvianus (Noble, 1924) in a northern Peruvian dry forest. - Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13(1) [General Section]: 111–121 (e172).

Abstract:

Analyses of diet composition are an important element of studies focusing on biological diversity,
ecology, and behavior of animals. Polychrus peruvianus was found to be a quite abundant lizard species in the northern Peruvian dry forest. However, our knowledge of the ecology of this species remains limited. Herein, we analyze the species dietary composition and the morphological features that may be related to the feeding behavior. Our results show that P. peruvianus is a semi-herbivorous food generalist, which also consumes faunistic prey. All age groups prefer mobile prey as sit-and-wait predators. However, during ontogenesis, plant material becomes the main component in the diet of adult specimens.