Interspecific and Seasonal Variation of Daily Activity Times in Gekkonid Lizards (Reptilia, Lacertilia)

Abstract

Daily activity of Alsophylax blanfordii, Cyrtodactylus kotschyi, Gehyra variegata, Hemidactylus turcicus, Pachydactylus laevigatus, Ptyodactylus hasselquistii guttatus, P.h. cf. hasselquistii, P.h. puiseuxi, P.h. ssp. (from Upper Volta), Stenodactylus sthenodactylus and Tarentola mauritanica was recorded by actographs during the four annual seasons, and of Ceramodactylus doriae, Cyrtodactylus amictopholis and Stenodactylus petrii during one season only. Room temperature was 30 C during the day and not less than 18C at night. Light was put on according to the corresponding sunrise and sunset times. All individuals had been acclimated together in the vivarium for at least 6 months before experimentation. Animals were three days in the actograph without food or water. The degree of nocturnality and the distribution of activity along day and night were measured. Israeli geckos distributed in arid regions are more nocturnal than those living in more humid areas or those distributed throughout Israel and Sinai. One taxon was diurnal, seven diurno-nocturnal and six nocturnal animals. Taxa all showed ecological segregation when compared with respect to one or more of the following parameters: size, habitat topography, climate and daily activity time. In winter activity of all taxa but one was more diurnal than in summer; P.h. ssp. was nocturnal all year round. There are several patterns in changing of daily activity distribution with seasons, and this helps to separate between taxa and specify their activity times. * * *