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Intraspecific predation in the Liolaemus lizard radiation: a primer

Intraspecific predation in the Liolaemus lizard radiation: a primer Intraspecific predation (cannibalism) occurs in a number of lizard species, although the incidence of this trophic behaviour appears to be infrequent. Within the South American Liolaemus lizard evolutionary radiation, the primary component of the carnivorous diet (herbivory has also evolved in several species) includes a diversity of arthropods and other invertebrates. However, a number of cases of saurophagy, mostly cannibalism, have also been reported in different species. Here, I review for the first time the occurrence of cannibalism in this prominent group of lizards, one of the largest and more ecologically diverse living adaptive radiations. Adults of five Liolaemus species have previously been reported to feed on conspecific hatchlings, and one additional case ( L. zapallarensis ) is reported in this paper. In general, cannibalism is found in species located at the right side of the body size frequency distribution, while no cases have been reported on the far left range of body sizes, suggesting that cannibalism is more common in large species. Only one species of medium size ( L. darwinii ) is known to feed on conspecifics. In addition, males are responsible for 83% of the cases of cannibalism, while only one case of female cannibalism is known ( L. chiliensis ). Finally, no clear phylogenetic signal can be inferred from these observations, as the six reported cannibal species belong to four of the five main Liolaemus clades. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Animal Biology Brill

Intraspecific predation in the Liolaemus lizard radiation: a primer

Pincheira-Donoso, Daniel
Animal Biology , Volume 62 (3): 277 – Jan 1, 2012
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References (40)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
1570-7555
eISSN
1570-7563
DOI
10.1163/157075611X618219
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Intraspecific predation (cannibalism) occurs in a number of lizard species, although the incidence of this trophic behaviour appears to be infrequent. Within the South American Liolaemus lizard evolutionary radiation, the primary component of the carnivorous diet (herbivory has also evolved in several species) includes a diversity of arthropods and other invertebrates. However, a number of cases of saurophagy, mostly cannibalism, have also been reported in different species. Here, I review for the first time the occurrence of cannibalism in this prominent group of lizards, one of the largest and more ecologically diverse living adaptive radiations. Adults of five Liolaemus species have previously been reported to feed on conspecific hatchlings, and one additional case ( L. zapallarensis ) is reported in this paper. In general, cannibalism is found in species located at the right side of the body size frequency distribution, while no cases have been reported on the far left range of body sizes, suggesting that cannibalism is more common in large species. Only one species of medium size ( L. darwinii ) is known to feed on conspecifics. In addition, males are responsible for 83% of the cases of cannibalism, while only one case of female cannibalism is known ( L. chiliensis ). Finally, no clear phylogenetic signal can be inferred from these observations, as the six reported cannibal species belong to four of the five main Liolaemus clades.

Journal

Animal Biology – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2012

Keywords: Saurophagy; cannibalism; trophic ecology; lizards; Liolaemus

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