The Area Occupied by an Omnivorous Lizard, Trachydosaurus rugosus

Abstract

The positions of individuals of the lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus were recorded regularly between April 1977 and May 1979. The areas occupied by lizards during 1-week periods varied seasonally, and also varied between lizards at any one time. The overall area occupied by each of 26 lizards, which were followed for 8 weeks or more, was significantly less than that predicted by Turner et al. (1969) for carnivorous lizards of equivalent size. The omnivorous diet of T. rugosus may explain the smaller area requirements of this species. It is not clear what restricts the lizards to an area of minimal requirements.