Life at the interface: ecology of Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi in the western Amazon and comparisons with P. argulus and P. eigenmanni

Abstract

The gymnophthalmid lizard Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi was studied at two Amazonian rain-forest sites. These lizards live at the interface of the terrestrial habitat and arboreal habitat, are active throughout the day at relatively low body temperatures, and maintain body temperatures (29.0 ± 0.34°C) slightly higher than ambient temperatures. Grasshoppers and crickets, roaches, insect larvae, and spiders dominate their carnivorous diet. Sexual size dimorphism is not apparent but differences in coloration and relative head size exist, with males having brighter and more vivid coloration and a relatively larger head. Differences in activity time, prey type, prey size, and microhabitat use exist between populations. A comparison of three species of Prionodactylus from Amazonian rain forest revealed some ecological similarity. However, differences in microhabitat use and diet exist. Differences in Baupläne were consistent with differences in microhabitat use. Dietary overlaps were relatively low; nevertheless, diets of the Prionodactylus species were more similar to each other than expected, based on a null model analysis in which a sampling of all diets was used for comparison.