Autecological observations of Acanthodactylus erythrurus (Sauria: Lacertidae) in southern Spain.

Abstract

The male population is composed of 60% adult and 40% subadult individuals; male hatchlings increase in size at a rate of 0.06 mm/day from hatching (= or < 31 mm snout-vent length) to sexual maturity approx 61 mm); 50% do not survive beyond 1.5 yr, but those which reach adult size may live 1.9 yr. Females grow from hatching (approx 28 mm) to sexual maturity (= or > 57 mm) at a rate of 0.05 mm/day; less than half survive 1.4 yr and the life span of some individuals is 2.1 yr. Adult males outnumber adult females 1.4:1, but subadult ratios are 1:1. Adults and subadults associate with different plant species during their activity period, but each age class tends to avoid open sand patches. These 8.4-13 g lizards feed on a wide variety of insects and appreciable quantities of plant material. 49% of all males and 82% of all females actively consume Halimium halimifolium. The frequency of escape from predation is estimated at 26.8%, based on tail-loss figures, and the incidence of cestode parasitism (Oochoristica cf. tuberculata) is 2.1%.-from Authors