Daily activity and microhabitat use of sympatric lizards from Serra do Cipo, southeastern Brazil

• Published in: Iheringia. Série zoologia Vol. 100; no. 4; pp. 336 - 340
• Main Authors: Filogonio, R, Del Lama, FS, Machado, L L, Drumond, M, Zanon, I, Mezzetti, NA, Galdino, CAB
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: 30.12.2010
• Subjects: Activity patterns; Cnemidophorus; Habitat; Habitat utilization; Lacertilia; Microenvironments; Seasonal variations; Sympatric populations; Teiidae; Temperature effects; Tropidurus
• ISSN: 0073-4721

We studied the influence of seasonality on the daily activity pattern and microhabitat use of three sympatric lizard species, Cnemidophorus ocellifer Spix, 1825 (Teiidae), Tropidurus montanus Rodrigues, 1987 and Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Rodrigues, 1981) (Tropiduridae), in an area of campos rupestres (rocky fields) habitat in state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cnemidophorus ocellifer exhibited low density and activity concentrated within the hottest hours of the day, and was observed mainly on shaded rocks. Tropidurus montanus and E. nanuzae had similar activity patterns that did not vary between seasons. Activity of T. montanus was related to environmental temperatures. However, we did not find such relationships for E. nanuzae during the dry season. Both T. montanus and E. nanuzae were sighted mainly on exposed rocks. Extension of activity varied between seasons, shorter for C. ocellifer and longer for T. montanus and E. nanuzae during the rainy season.Original Abstract: Nos estudamos a influencia da sazonalidade no padrao de atividade e uso de microhabitat ao longo do dia em tres especies simpatricas de lagartos Cnemidophorus ocellifer Spix, 1825 (Teiidae), Tropidurus montanus Rodrigues, 1987 e Eurolophosaurus nanuzae (Rodrigues, 1981) (Tropiduridae) em uma area de campos rupestres no estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Cnemidophorus ocellifer apresentou uma baixa densidade na area e sua atividade se concentrou nas horas mais quentes do dia, sendo visto principalmente em rochas sombreadas. Tropidurus montanus e E. nanuzae demonstraram padrao de atividade similar que nao variou entre as estacoes. No entanto, a atividade em T. montanus esteve ligada as temperaturas do ambiente, enquanto esta condicao nao afetou o padrao de E. nanuzae durante a estacao seca. Tanto T. montanus quanto E. nanuzae foram avistados principalmente em rochas expostas. A extensao da atividade variou entre as estacoes, sendo menor para C. ocellifer durante a estacao chuvosa e maior para T. montanus e E. nanuzae durante o mesmo periodo.