Diet composition of the lizard Lacerta lepida in Central Spain

A. M Castilla, Dirk Bauwens, G. A Llorente

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    Abstract

    We studied diet composition of Lacerta lepida in a sample of 325 specimens from central Spain. This large lacertid lizard feeds predominantly on Coleoptera, but also consumes other arthropods, snails, small vertebrates, and some plant material. Composition of the animal fraction of the diet and trophic diversity were virtually identical in adult males and females. Juveniles fed upon a restricted number of prey types which were small in size, whereas adults consumed a large number of prey taxa, covering a wider range of prey sizes. Trophic segregation among individual lizards was highest in the smaller size classes. The incidence of plant material increased with lizard size and was highest in males, but it never represented a substantial fraction of the total diet. The contribution of small vertebrates to total prey numbers also increased with lizard body size. Our results indicate that vertebrates are of marginal numerical importance to the diet of L. lepida.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalJournal of Hydrology
    Volume25
    Issue number1
    Pages (from-to)30-36
    Number of pages7
    Publication statusPublished - 1991

    Thematic list

    • Species and biotopes

    EWI Biomedical sciences

    • B005-zoology

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