Foraging Behavior of the Egyptian Spiny-Tailed Lizard Uromastyx Aegyptia (FORSKÅL, 1775)

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Zoologisch-Botanische Datenbank/Zoological-Botanical Database

Digitale Literatur/Digital Literature

Zeitschrift/Journal: Herpetozoa

Jahr/Year: 2009

Band/Volume: 22_1_2

Autor(en)/Author(s): Cunningham Peter Low

Artikel/Article: Foraging behavior of the Egyptian Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx aegyptia (FORSKÅL, 1775). 91 ©Österreichische Gesellschaft für Herpetologie e.V., Wien, Austria, download unter www.biologiezentrum.at

SHORT NOTE HERPETOZOA 22 (1/2) Wien, 30. Juni 2009 SHORT NOTE 91

Foraging behavior of the Egyptian scaling bigger shrubs/trees to forage. This Spiny-tailed Lizard Uromastyx current observed foraging behavior is probably due to the adverse conditions experienced aegyptia (FORSKÅL, 1775) in the Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area – the below average rainfall and poor overall veg- Uromastyx aegyptia (FORSKÅL, 1775) etative growth – and/or changes in vegetation are terrestrial burrowing lizards viewed as composition and structure influencing their generalist herbivores, utilizing a wide vari- foraging behavior. ety of plant species throughout their range How this selection of A. tortilis leaves (MANDAVILLE 1965; FOLEY et al. 1992; DISI and pods affects the required energy intake et al. 2001; CUNNINGHAM 2000, 2001a, and consequently time spent foraging, cou- 2001b). Their food plants usually consist of pled with seasonal changes in plant species, low growing forbs and grasses, but they are plant part selection and availability, requires even known to be predacious, especially as further investigations. These could lead to juveniles, on arthropods, and opportunisti- answers to the successful foraging strategy cally consume items such as date kernels, of this extreme desert-dwelling species. ungulate droppings and human objects – e.g. The overall increase in A. tortilis densities plastic (CUNNINGHAM 2000, 2001a, 2001b). inside the protected area after the exclusion On 6 July 2008 (22°19.672’N; 42° of domestic stock, with the opposite being 11.943’E, elevation: 980 m), at 10.06 a.m. true outside of the protected area, are inter- in the Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area esting managerial issues for contemplation approximately 700 km west of Riyadh in regarding the diet and wellbeing of U. western central Saudi Arabia, I observed an aegyptia both in and outside Protected adult U. aegyptia of approximately 40 cm, Areas in Saudi Arabia. total length, browsing on the leaves and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: My appreciation pods of an Acacia tortilis tree (maximum to Ernest ROBINSON (Director KKWRC, Thumamah) height of the tree was 1.8 m) at a height of for commenting on a draft of this note. 1.2 m off the ground. The general area is REFERENCES: CUNNINGHAM, P. L. (2000): undulating sandy and/or gravel plains dom- Daily activity pattern and diet of a population of the inated by A. tortilis trees and shrubs and Spiny-tailed Lizard, Uromastyx aegyptius microlepis (BLANFORD 1874), during summer in the United Arab Salsola spinescens shrubs. The rainfall is nor- Emirates.- Zoology in the Middle East, Heidelberg; 21: mally low and unpredictable (50-100 mm 37-46. CUNNINGHAM, P. L. (2001a): Spiny-tail Lizard p.a.), but 2008 has been far below that aver- Uromastyx aegyptius microlepis diet – a study in the age with a maximum of only 15 mm record- United Arab Emirates.- Tribulus, Abu Dhabi; 11 (2): 28-29. CUNNINGHAM, P. L. (2001b): Notes on the diet, ed in patches throughout the reserve for the survival rate, and burrow specifics of Uromastyx “rain season” – March to May. aegyptius microlepis from the United Arab Emirates.- The individual I observed froze on Asiatic Herpetological Research, Berkeley; 9: 30-33. sighting me – a tactic often used when too DISI, A. M. & MODRÝ, D. & NEČAS, P. & RIFAI, L. (2001): Amphibians and reptiles of the Hashemite far away from the safety of their burrows. Kingdom of Jordan. An atlas and field guide. Frankfurt The area where I observed this behavior was am Main (Chimaira), pp. 408. FOLEY, W. J. & sandy with gravel islands, sparsely vegetat- BOUSKILA, A. & SHKOLNIK, A. & CHOSHNIAK, I. (1992): Microbial digestion in the herbivorous lizard ed, the dry vegetation there probably neces- Uromastyx aegyptius (Agamidae).- Journal of Zoology, sitating this foraging strategy. The Acacia London; 226: 387-398. HIGHFIELD, A. C. & SLIMANI, T. tree in question, although not fully flushed, (1998): The Spiny-tailed Lizard at home: Uromastyx had some green growth and more impor- acanthinurus in southern Morocco.- Reptiles [Maga- tantly, was fruiting, which probably attract- zine]. Guide to keeping reptiles and amphibians, Ir- vine; 6 (7): 76-87. MANDAVILLE, J. (1965): Plants eaten ed the lizard. by Uromastyx microlepis (BLANFORD) and other notes Although climbing onto Pennisetum on this lizard in eastern Arabia.- Journal of the Bombay divisum tufts and Haloxylon salicornicum Natural History Society, Bombay; 62 (1): 161-163. bushes to feed and probably for thermoregu- KEY WORDS: Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae: lation, as observed in the United Arab Uromastyx aegyptia, diet, feeding ecology, Saudi Arabia Emirates (CUNNINGHAM 2000) and browsing SUBMITTED: August 14, 2008 in low shrubs documented for U. acanthinu- AUTHOR: Peter L. CUNNINGHAM, King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre and the Zoological Society of ra BELL, 1825 in Morocco (HIGHFIELD & London, Thumamah, P. O. Box 61681, Riyadh, King- SLIMANI 1998), I have not observed them dom of Saudi Arabia < [email protected] >