We analyzed the thermal ecology and activity patterns of the lizard community from the Restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The broadest activity was that of Tropidurus torquatus, a sit-andwait forager, while the active foraging teiid Cnemidophorus littoralis had the shortest activity. The nocturnal gekkonid Hemidactylus mabouia was found active during the day only during early morning and late afternoon, when environmental temperatures are low. Body temperature was highest for Cnemidophorus littoralis and lowest for the two Mabuya species. The patterns found here are discussed and compared to those of congeneric species in other habitats in Brazil.Key words: thermal ecology, lizard community, activity patterns, restinga habitat.
RESUMOEcologia termal e padrões de atividade da comunidade de lagartos da restinga de Jurubatiba, Macaé, RJForam analizados a ecologia termal e os padrões de atividade da comunidade de lagartos da restinga de Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A espécie com atividade mais extensa foi Tropidurus torquatus, um forrageador "senta-e-espera", enquanto o forrageador ativo Cnemidophorus littoralis teve a atividade mais restrita. O geconídeo noturno Hemidactylus mabouia foi encontrado ativo durante o dia apenas no início da manhã e no final da tarde, quando as temperaturas ambientais estão baixas. A temperatura corpórea foi mais alta para Cnemidophorus littoralis e mais baixa para as duas espécies de Mabuya. Os padrões aqui encontrados são discutidos e comparados com os de espécies congenéricas em outros habitats no Brasil.Palavras-chave: ecologia termal, comunidade de lagartos, padrões de atividade, restinga.
We studied the parasitism by larvae of the chigger mite Eutrombicula alfreddugesi on the lizard community of Restinga de Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil. We investigated the patterns of infestation (prevalence and intensity) of chigger mites in four sympatric lizards: Tropidurus torquatus, Mabuya agilis, M. macrorhyncha and Cnemidophorus littoralis. All lizards collected were checked for the presence of mites, which were counted under stereomicroscope. We tested the relationship between intensity of infestation and lizard body size for each species using regression analysis. The prevalences and mean intensities (+ one standard deviation) of infestation on each host species were, respectively: 100%; 86.4 + 94.6 in T. torquatus (n = 62); 100%; 20.9 + 9.3 in M. agilis (n = 7); 100%; 11.1 + 13.1 in M. macrorhyncha (n = 12); and 95.2%; 19.1 + 16.8 in C. littoralis (n = 21). Only for C. littoralis did body size significantly affect the intensity of infestation (r = 0.27, p = 0.02). For all lizard species, the body parts where chiggers occurred with the highest intensity were those of skin folds and joint regions.
This study reports helminth infection patterns of the lizard Tropidurus hispidus from an area of semiarid caatinga in northeastern Brazil (Ceará state). The lizard population was parasitized by 8 helminth species, and the species composition of the component community resembles that found for other Neotropical lizards. The prevalence of parasites was higher for males compared with females, whereas no relation was found between intensity of infection of 2 parasites (Parapharyngodon alvarengai and Physaloptera lutzi) and the lizards body size. For reproductive females, parasite infection intensity was negatively correlated to reproductive investment.
Specimens of the four most abundant diurnal lizards (Tropidurus torquatus, Cnemidophorus littoralis, Mabuya macrorhyncha and M. agilis) inhabiting the restinga of Jurubatiba, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil were examined for nematodes. Eight species of nematodes were found. Tropidurus torquatus had the richest (8 species) and most diverse nematode fauna, whereas that of C. littoralis was the poorest (2 species) and less diverse. Tropidurus torquatus also had the highest overall prevalence (92%) and mean infection intensity (37.2; standard deviation 82.0; range 2-549). Similarities in nematode faunal composition between host species was generally low, except between the two Mabuya species.
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