Diet and reproductive states in a high altitude neotropical lizard, Liolaemus ramirezae (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

SEMHAN, ROMINA V.; HALLOY, MONIQUE

JOURNAL OF HERPETOLOGY

SOC STUDY AMPHIBIANS REPTILES

Lugar: Salt Lake City; Año: 2016

0022-1511

The diet of an animal may be influenced by both its reproductive biology and seasonal changes. Here we investigate these factors in the lizard species, Liolaemus ramirezae, from the prepuna of northwestern Argentina, during spring, summer, and autumn. We found that L. ramirezae eats mainly Hemiptera, Coleoptera, and Formicidae. Considering total plant volume with respect to prey volume, this species was mostly insectivorous. Food intake varied among the different seasons and between the sexes. We recorded males with the greatest increase in testicular volume in spring, most females being gravid at that time. In summer, females were in a previtellogenic state, and in autumn most were previtellogenic with one being vitellogenic. When females were gravid they ate significantly less. In contrast, the relationship between male reproductive state and amount of prey consumed was not as distinct. Therefore, in L. ramirezae, the amount of food consumed by males would not be affected by their reproductive state; however, in females reproductive state could be regulating the amount and type of food ingested, particularly when they are in a gravid state.