Diet composition of black rock Agama (Laudakia melanura)
Diet composition of black rock Agama (Laudakia melanura)
MISBAH RAZZAQ, MUHAMMAD RAIS*, MUHAMMAD ARSLAN ASADI, SALEHA ABBASI &
ABDULLAH IBRAHIMv
ABSTRACT
The empirical data on diet of many reptilian species of Pakistan are
scarce. We aimed to document major dietary items of Black Rock Agama
(Laudakia melanura) in rocky habitat, croplands, areas around human
habitations and natural streams of Mori Said Ali Game Reserve (AJ&K)
using stomach-content flushing and fecal analysis. Of the recorded 17
dietary items, ten (59%) were of plant origin and seven (41%) were of
animal origin. Pyrus pashia (80%) and Isodon rugosus (0.37 ml) were
recorded as the most frequent plant species in fecal samples and
stomach contents, respectively. The majority of insects consumed by the
lizard species were Coleopterans (0.22 ml) followed by Hymenopterans
(0.18 ml) and Hemipterans (0.18%). The similarity index showed that the
similarity in food items at sites “rocky habitat-human habitations” and
“rocky-stream habitat” was highest (38% each) followed by “human
habitations-stream habitat” (33%), rocky habitat-cropland habitat (30%),
“cropland habitat- human habitations and cropland habitat- stream habitat
(24% each) whereas the similarity in food items taxa using stomach
content analysis at sites “rocky habitat-cropland habitat” was highest
(87%) followed by “stream habitat-rocky habitat” and “stream habitatcropland
habitat” (66% each), “rocky habitat-human habitat” (25% each).
Our findings established omnivory in the species for the first time. The
lizard species feeds on non-woody vegetation such as grasses, herbs
and shrubs and also ingests insects.
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