Produção Nacional
First record of the Brazilian restinga lizard Tropidurus hygomi ingesting a fruit of Melocactus violaceus (Cactaceae)
2015; Volume: 8; Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
2071-5773
AutoresMaria Aldenise Xavier, Eduardo José dos Reis Dias,
Tópico(s)Animal and Plant Science Education
Resumo1861 is an endemic and threatened species (VU A2bc) (Brasil, 2015) of restinga habitats (sand dune habitats with small shrubs) with a highly restricted geographic range in Brazil (Rodrigues, 1987; Dias and Rocha, 2005; Vargens et al., 2008; Martins et al., 2010). Until recently, this lizard had a known distribution from the municipality of Salvador in State of Bahia to Santo Amaro das Brotas municipality, in State of Sergipe, Brazil (Vanzolini and Gomes, 1979; Rodrigues, 1987). However, a new population of T. hygomi was recently registered in the State of Sergipe, increasing its distribution ca. 40 km north of Japaratuba (36.86586°W; 10.61328°S). A voucher specimen (LABEVL620) related to this record was deposited in the collection of the Laboratorio de Biologia e Ecologia de Vertebrados, Universidade Federal de Sergipe. Tropidurus hygomi is a diurnal lizard with an extended period of activity that begins before 8:00 h and finalize after 16:00 h (Vargens et al., 2008), a common pattern displayed for species of the genus Tropidurus (Rocha and Bergallo, 1990; Vitt, 1995; Hatano et al., 2001). Actually, there are few studies on the biology and ecology of T. hygomi, especially regarding feeding habits (e.g. Vargens et al., 2008; Martins et al., 2010). Herein, we report the first case of ingestion of cactus fruit by the lizard Tropidurus hygomi. On 17 November 2014, around 11:00 a.m., we sampled one female Tropidurus hygomi feeding on cactus fruit (Melocactus violaceus Pfeiff. subsp. margaritaceus N. P. Taylor) (Fig. 1) in a fragment of restinga habitat at the municipally of Pirambu, Sergipe State, northeast Brazil (36.84364°W, 10.69363°S; Datum WGS 84; 88 m elev.). The lizard positioned itself on the cephalium of M. violaceus, pulled the fruit and ingested it whole. Fleshy fruits of cactus are highly energetic and have high water content (Figueira et al., 1994), which may provide important resources for lizards that live in dry environments, such as the restinga. Cactus fruit Herpetology Notes, volume 8: 437-438 (published online on 12 August 2015)
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