. NATURAL HISTORY Notes...>>>>>>>> ..>>>>>>>> NATURAL HISTORY Notes

body of the wire lizard was found to contain the shells of three hatched eggs, two near GEKKONIDAE the center of the body and one near its tail Afrogecko porphyreus base (Fig. 1). Egg size was within the range of (Daudin 1802) 7.0–8.0 X 8.7–11.0 mm previously reported Marbled African Leaf-Toed Gecko for A. porphyreus (FitzSimons 1943; Branch REPRODUCTION & Bauer 1995; Branch 1998) but out of range for the smaller Lygodactylus capensis E. HESTER, A. SCHAEFER & A. M. and larger mabouia, the only BAUER other climbing geckos occurring in the area, Afrogecko porphyreus is distributed widely and both introduced. The spacing of wires in temperate regions of South Africa, es- on the underside of the lizard would have pecially in the Western Cape (Branch 1998, likely admitted the body of the female only 2014) and is generally the most commonly at the larger gaps. The wire lizard provided encountered of gecko along the an ideal oviposition site as the eggs were south coast of South Africa, especially in not visible from the dorsal side, were pro- Figure 1. Ventral view of body and anterior portion of tail of wire lizard in which three hatchedAfrogecko edificarian habitats, where they may take tected from predators and were exposed porphyreus eggs were found at Storms River Village. advantage of artificial lighting that attracts to good airflow. Whether one female laid South Africa with notes on life history and Post Office, 8010 Cape Town, South Africa. prey (Branch 1998; Perry et al. 2008). Ovi- all three eggs (presumably as parts of more . Herpetological Natural History 3 ARNE SCHAEFER, P. O. Box 12038, Mill St. position in this species occurs chiefly in than one clutch) or the eggs were those of (1):47-89. Post Office, 8010 Cape Town, South Africa. summer months (Branch & Hanekom 1987) more than one female is unknown, as com- BRANCH, W.R. & HANEKOM, N. 1987. The AARON M. BAUER, Department of Biology, and, as in most gekkonids, clutch size is two. munal egg-laying is common in the species herpetofauna of the Tsitsikamma Coast and Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, In natural habitats eggs may be laid under (FitzSimons 1943; Branch & Hanekom 1987; Forest National Parks. Koedoe 30: 49-60. Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085, USA. Branch 1998). stones (FitzSimons 1943), in rotting tree FITZSIMONS, V.F. 1943. The lizards of South E-mail: [email protected] stumps (Branch & Hanekom 1987), under REFERENCES Africa. Memoirs of the Transvaal Museum 1: tree bark, in rock cracks (Branch 1998) or BRANCH, W. R. 1998. Field Guide to the i-xv + 1-528 pp., pls. I–XXIV, 1 folding map. in other protected areas. However, in com- Snakes and other Reptiles of Southern Africa. PERRY, G., BUCHANAN, B.W., FISHER, R.N., LACERTIDAE mensal situations, eggs may be laid in any Third Edition. Struik Publishers: Cape Town. SALMON, M. & WISE, S.E. 2008. Effects of protected location, including amongst rub- Latastia longicaudata BRANCH, W.R. 2014. Afrogecko porphyreus. artificial night lighting on amphibians and (Reuss, 1834) bish (Branch 1998). We report on an amus- reptiles in urban environments. Pp. 239-256 ing case of an oviposition site at Storms River P. 100 in BATES, M.F., BRANCH, W.R., BAUER, Common long-tailed Lizard A.M., BURGER, M., MARAIS, J., ALEXANDER, in MITCHELL, J.C., JUNG BROWN, R.E. & Village, Western Cape Province (33°58’15” S, Urban Herpetol- G.J. & DE VILLIERS, M.S. (eds). 2014. Atlas BARTHOLOMEW, B. (eds.) 23°53’00” E) in an anthropogenic environ- and Red List of the Reptiles of South Africa, ogy. Herpetological Conservation 3. Society DIET ment. In February 2017 one of the authors Lesotho and Swaziland. Suricata 1. South for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, S. KIRCHHOF, L. B. LOSOGO, C. S. (EH) removed a beaded-wire chameleon African National Institute, Pre- Salt Lake City. GOOSH & P. K. MALONZA (total length approximately 30 cm, of which toria. the tail was half) that had been hanging be- SUBMITTED BY: On 31 March 2017, during a survey of the BRANCH, W.R. & BAUER, A.M. 1995. Her- neath a pergola at a private residence. The fauna and flora of the Sibiloi National park, petofauna of the Little Karoo, Western Cape, ESTELLE HESTER, P. O. Box 12038, Mill St. 20 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 21 . NATURAL HISTORY Notes...>>>>>>>> ..>>>>>>>> NATURAL HISTORY Notes

an adult Latastia longicaudata(Reuss, 1834) their diet volume (Polis et al. 1981). For the carefully ponders before using the stinger, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and stinger use decreases depending on the was observed swallowing a highly venomous Sinai Fan-fingered gecko Ptyodactylus( gut- We would like to thank the Academy of Fin- resistance and size of the opponent (Rein Parabuthus liosoma (Ehrenberg, tatus Heyden, 1827), it was shown not only land for funding the expedition, the staff of 1993). It may well be that L. longicaudata 1828) in bushy vegetation along a dry river- that they preyed upon the highly toxic Israeli Turkana Basin Institute, the Nairobi Museum was able to overpower the scorpion. In any bed about 22 km inland of the eastern shore yellow scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus he- of Natural History and the whole research case, despite the remarkable size of the of Lake Turkana, Marsabit County, northern braeus (Birula, 1908), but also they appeared team of Mar Cabeza (University of Helsinki) scorpion, in the end the lizard managed to Kenya (N 4° 0’5.69”; E 36°24’41.49”; 460 m to be physiologically tolerant towards its involved in the Sibiloi survey. Irene Conenna swallow its remains (Figs. 1B-D). Whether L. a.s.l). venom as opposed to the allopatric Ptyo- kindly helped with the literature, thank you longicaudata is able to kill a live Parabuthus Very little is known about the feeding dactylus puiseuxi Boutan, 1893 (Zlotkin et al. very much. behaviour of L. longicaudata and its selec- 2003). Lizards of the family Lacertidae both liosoma remains to be confirmed. tion of prey. In general, this species’ diet is occasionally eat and get eaten by reported to consist of insects and other ar- (Pianka et al. 1979, Huey et al. 2001, Castilla thropods (Spawls et al. 2002). The only em- et al. 2008, 2009, Edwards et al. 2013). One pirical study known to us on diet of L. lon- Kalahari lacertid, Nucras tessellata (Smith, gicaudata was conducted in central Kenya 1838) may be specialized in feeding on scor- (Isiolo District) during the dry season (July, pions, at least during certain periods of the August) of 1987 (Hardy & Crnkovic 2006). year (Huey & Pianka 1981, van der Meer et Here, stomach analyses revealed that 96% al. 2010, Edwards et al. 2013). In extreme- of prey items consumed by L. longicauda- ly arid or otherwise depauperate environ- ta (N = 7) were termites and another 0.7% ments with limited prey, scorpi- were ants (the rest comprised Orthoptera, ons may form an important prey source to Coleoptera larvae (Scarabaeidae) and more lizards given that they are large and consid- Hymenoptera (wasps); Hardy & Crnkovic ered to be energetically rich prey (Pianka, 2006). 1986). It may well be that as a result of the current ongoing drought in northern Ken- Lizards and scorpions have been reported ya, L. longicaudata was forced to scavenge to be involved in cross predation, meaning for alternative, highly nutritious prey items they belong to taxa eating each other over such as scorpions. the course of ontogenetic development (McCormick & Polis 1982). Lizards may When we detected the L. longicaudata even form important parts of the diet of individual with the scorpion that day at 3.30 scorpions, particularly in arid regions (Cas- pm in the arid savannah of Sibiloi National tilla et al. 2009). McCormick & Polis (1982) Park, the scorpion was already missing its reported nine different lizard genera (both head and most of its legs (Fig. 1A). We can- diurnal and nocturnal) that get preyed on by not be sure if the lizard killed the scorpion scorpions of the families Scorpionidae and and already removed the legs or if the scor- . On the other hand, it was shown pion was found dead and subsequently de- in a review, that for example 12 species of voured. Studies on Parabuthus liosoma from Figure 1 A-D: Latastia longicaudata with Parabuthus liosoma shortly after we discovered it (A), handling gekkonid lizards had up to 15% scorpions in Isiolo (Kenya) have shown that this species and re-arranging the scorpion (B, C) and finally swallowing it (D). 22 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 23 . NATURAL HISTORY Notes...>>>>>>>> ..>>>>>>>> NATURAL HISTORY Notes

REFERENCES systems. Ohio State University Press, Colum- GPO Nairobi Kenya. male was 238 g on 22 November 2015, 223 CASTILLA, A.M., HERREL, A., & GOSÁ, A. bus, Ohio, USA. Email: [email protected] g on 26 December 2015 and 230 g on 21 2008. Mainland versus island differences POLIS, G.A., SISSOM, W.D. & MCCORMICK PATRICK KINYATTA MALONZA. Senior February 2016. in behaviour of Podarcis lizards confronted S.J. 1981. Predators of scorpions: field data Research Scientist/Section Head Herpetol- I frequently observed mating behavior with dangerous prey: the scorpion Buthus and a review. Journal of Arid Environments ogy Section, National Museums of Kenya, from December to April in 2015-2017. Ad- occitanus. Journal of Natural History 42: 4: 309-326. Museum Hill Road, P. O. Box 40658-00100, ditional single egg clutches were discov- 2331-2342. REIN, J. 1993. Sting use in two species of Nairobi, Kenya. ered at the same egg-laying site on 20 May CASTILLA, A.M., HERREL, A., & GOSÁ, A. Parabuthus scorpions (Buthidae). The Jour- E-mail: [email protected]. 2016 (egg buried and weighing 13.2 g), 16 2009. Predation by scorpions Buthus( occi- nal of Arachnology 21: 60-63. June 2016 and 16 January 2017 (egg bur- tanus) on Podarcis atrata from the Colum- SPAWLS, S., HOWELL, K., DREWES, R. & ied, probably laid several days before it was bretes Islands. Munibe 57: 299-302. ASHE, J. 2002. A field guide to the Reptiles of TESTUDINIDAE discovered, weighing 16.7 g and measuring EDWARDS, S., TOLLEY, K.A., VANHOOY- East Africa. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwan- Homopus signatus 35.7 by 28.6 mm). The egg-laying site was DONCK, B., MEASEY, G.J., & HERREL, A. da, and Burundi. Princeton University Press, Gmelin, 1789 checked on 20 February 2017, but no eggs 2013. Is dietary niche breadth linked to mor- Princeton, New Jersey, 543 pp. Speckled Padloper were found. phology and performance in Sandveld liz- VAN DER MEER, M.H., WHITING, M.J. & On 23 February 2017, a two-egg clutch ards Nucras (Sauria: Lacertidae)?. Biological BRANCH, W.R. 2010. Ecology of Southern was discovered at the egg-laying site. Both Journal of the Linnean Society 110: 674-688. TWO-EGG CLUTCHING African Sandveld Lizards (Lacertidae, Nu- egg were only partly buried. The female HARDY, L.M. & CRNKOVIC, A.C. 2006. Diet cras). Copeia 2010: 568-577. F. H.A. VAN LOON was sitting next to the egg-laying site and of Amphibians and reptiles from the En- ZLOTKIN, E., MILMAN, T., SION, G. & WER- On 23 september 2015, I received a male and appeared exhausted. She moved very little gare Ondare River Region of Central Kenya, NER, Y.L. 2003. Predatory behaviour of gek- when picked up and weighed 212 g. One during the dry season. African Journal of female Speckled Padloper, imported from konid lizards, Ptyodactylus spp., towards the egg weighed 15.5 g and measured 35.4 by Herpetology 55: 143-159. South Africa for the conservation-breed- scorpion Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus, ing programme of the Homopus Research 26.9 mm. The second egg weighed 14.0 g HUEY, R.B., & PIANKA, E.R. 1981. Ecological and their tolerance of its venom. Journal of Foundation. This couple was acclimated and measured 31.7 by 27.8 mm. Both eggs consequences of foraging mode. Ecology 62: Natural History 37: 641-646. from southern to northern hemisphere con- appeared fresh, the egg-shells were still 991-999. moist and the eggs still had their pinkish SUBMITTED BY ditions at my location (Belgium). At the time HUEY, R.B., PIANKA, E.R., & VITT, L.J. 2001. of import, both were fully grown, egg-shell coloration. When candled, both Ecol- How often do lizards “run on empty”?. SEBASTIAN KIRCHHOF. Museum für the female weighed 200 g (SCL 107.3 mm, eggs showed that the egg yolk had not set. ogy 82: 1-7. Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution SH 47.5 mm and SW 81.8 mm) and the male On 27 February, both eggs had developed MCCORMICK, S.J. & POLIS, G.A. 1982. Ar- and Biodiversity Science, Invalidenstr. 43, 99 g (SCL 92.0 mm, SH 34.5 mm and SW a clear, broad white band (approximately thropods that prey on vertebrates. Biologi- 10115 Berlin, Germany. 63.2 mm). Fully grown speckled padlopers 1.5 cm in width), indicating that they were cal Reviews 57: 29-58. E-mail: [email protected] will only grow further at a very slow rate. developing. On 3 March, candling revealed PIANKA, E.R. 1986. Ecology and natural his- LAWRENCE BOSCO LOSOGO, P. O. Box On 22 October 2015, the female of this sin- that the egg yolks in both eggs had set and tory of desert lizards. Princeton University 10, 60500 Illeret, Marsabit County, Kenya. gle-egg producing species (e.g., Loehr et al., by 14 March blood vessels had developed in Press, New Jersey, USA, 208 pp. Email: [email protected] 2011) laid her first egg in captivity. The egg both eggs. CLAUDIA SHUORO GOOSH, P. O. Box 10, PIANKA, E.R., HUEY, R.B. & LAWLOR, L.R. weighed 16.7 g and measured 35.5 by 28.1 All published information on reproduc- 1979. Niche segregation in desert lizards. 60500 Illeret, Marsabit County, Kenya mm. The egg was buried at shallow depth, tion in Speckled Padlopers reports sin- Pp. 67-115. In: HORN, D. J., MITCHELL, R. KENNEDY SAITOTI, Nature Kenya, Insect at a site that was partly covered by foliage gle-egg clutches, with the exception of two & STAIRS, G. R. (Eds.), Analysis of ecological Committee of Kenya, P. O. Box 44486, 00100 from a plastic plant. Body mass of the fe- cases where a small, marbled-sized egg was 24 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 NUMBER 67 | APRIL 2018 25