Autecology of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Brazilian semiarid Caatinga

Abstract

Autecology of the lizard Colobosauroides cearensis (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Brazilian semiarid Caatinga. Colobosauroides cearensis is a diurnal lizard with a relictual distribution associated with forested habitats in the Brazilian Caatinga Domain. Knowledge of the natural history of this secretive lizard is scarce. Herein, the diet, reproduction, sexual dimorphism, microhabitat use, and thermal ecology of C. cearensis are described based on feldwork in 2015–2017 in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The diet of the lizards is composed exclusively of arthropods, with Formicidae being the most important prey category. Numerical and volumetric niche breadths are 5.52 and 9.2 respectively, and trophic niche overlap between females and males is 0.3. Males are distinguished from females by the larger size of the males and the presence of femoral pores. Colobosauroides cearensis is cryptozoic, inhabiting the leaf litter and having no direct contact with the soil or solar radiation. The average body temperature of the lizards is 30.4 ± 3.3°C, which is positively correlated with the air temperature. Gravid females with fxed clutch size of two eggs are found in early rainy season. Oviposition occurs between April and May (when the highest number of juveniles are observed). Sexual maturity occurs early in males and testicular volume is signifcantly correlated with body size.

Helminths associated with Norops fuscoauratus (Squamata, Dactyloidae) in highland marshes of the Brazilian semi-arid

“…Nematoda was the most abundant and rich group of parasite species in our sample, as reported elsewhere for amphibians and reptiles from South America (Ávila & Silva, 2010; Campião et al ., 2014), including N. fuscoauratus (Goldberg et al ., 2006a; Albuquerque et al ., 2012) and other members of the Dactyloidae family (Cabrera-Guzmán & Garrido-Olvera, 2014; Araujo Filho et al ., 2016; Cabral et al ., 2018; Amorim & Ávila, 2019). Higher infection of nematodes can be related to host habitat use and diet, which facilitate transmission (Aho, 1990; Poulin, 2005; Teixeira et al ., 2017).…”

“…Larvae may be acquired by ingestion of infected arthropods by N. fuscoauratus (Anderson, 2000; Vitt et al ., 2003). Species of the genus Physaloptera are common parasites of vertebrates, which act as both paratenic and definitive hosts (Anderson, 2000), usually found infecting the stomach and intestine of lizards (Ávila & Silva, 2010; Teixeira et al ., 2017). Physaloptera spp.…”

Lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) from the Caatinga, northeastern Brazil: Detailed and updated overview

“…Diet based mainly on arthropods, being Isoptera, Orthoptera and Blattaria the most representative items(Mesquita et al 2006; Cavalcanti et al in press). Oviparous, no detailed data is known about the number of eggs laid by the species, but it could be similar to other Colobosauroides(Silva Neta et al 2019). Araneae the most representative items.…”

“…Fossorial and diurnal. In habits shaded microhabitats in the Caatinga and prefers microenvironments with leaf litter and minimal direct exposure to sunlight(Borges-Nojosa and Caramaschi 2003;Rodrigues 2003;Silva Neta et al 2019). Diet based mainly on arthropods, being Hymenoptera, Isoptera and Insect larvae the most representative items.…”

“…Diet based mainly on arthropods, being Hymenoptera, Isoptera and Insect larvae the most representative items. Oviparous, the female usually lays two eggs at a time(Silva Neta et al 2019).Ecological notes. Fossorial and diurnal(Rodrigues et al 2005).…”