Body size effects on pursuit success and interspecific diet differences in Cnemidophorus lizards

Abstract

We examined the relationship between body size and pursuit success in the lizard Cnemidophorus uniparens. Using grasshoppers as prey in experimental feeding trials, we found a significant positive relationship between lizard body size and pursuit time. In addition, larger individuals were significantly more likely to be unsuccessful at capturing the grasshoppers. We also examined the relationship between the mean body size of Cnemidophorus populations and diet composition. We found a significant negative relationship between mean body size and the proportion of grasshoppers in the diet and a significant positive relationship between mean body size and the proportion of termites in the diet.