Agamid lizard predation by Macaca sinica (toque macaque) in Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

Abstract

This is the first study to record cases of predation and scavenging of the family Agamidae and related foraging behaviour within a social group of Macaca sinica (the toque macaque). We observed three incidences of the capture and consumption of two species, Calotes liolepis and, Calotes versicolor, and one case of scavenging of a carcass of C. liolepis. While common for macaques, this behaviour has been under-reported in M. sinica. Further studies of predation and scavenging behaviour in a cercopithecine species contribute to our understanding of hunting and its evolution in other primate taxa.