História natural do lagarto partenogenético Leposoma percarinatum (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) em floresta amazônica, Pará, Brasil

Abstract

To understand the ecological role that each species play in their habitat, basic studies of natural history, involving questions about habitat use, trophic and reproductive ecology, are necessary. Aiming to characterize the activity, microhabitat use, diet and reproduction patterns of a population of Leposoma percarinatum (Muller, 1923), we analyzed individuals collected in two areas of the “Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã” (PPBio and ECFPn), on the municipalities of Melgaço and Portel, Pará state. In order to do that, we analyzed the composition and importance of food items, microhabitat use, period of activity, reproductive cycle and fecundity of the species. L. percarinatum is a component of the humid leaf litter near water bodies. It is a diurnal species of lizard, with period of actibvity between 0800h and 1700h. With a generalist feeding habit, it feeds on arthropods, with Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and Araneae being the most important items, without significant differences on the alimentary index between dry and rainy season. It has a continuous reproductive cycle and the clutch size is up to two eggs, where larger females tend to produce larger eggs.