The Diet of Leiolopisma-Entrecasteauxii (Lacertilia, Scincidae) From Southwestern Victoria, With Notes on Its Relationship With the Reproductive-Cycle

Abstract

Analysis of the number and volume of food items in the guts of the scincid Leiolopisma entrecasteauxii collected monthly from a rocky grazed site at Dreeite (38°11'S., 143°31'E.) on the volcanic plains of south-western Victoria revealed the species to be an opportunistic insectivore. Rank correlation analysis of the number of invertebrate taxa trapped monthly at the site revealed a significant (<0.05) overall association between potential and actual prey and little prey selectivity. Seasonal analysis of diet indicated the dominant prey taxa to be commutable throughout the year, confirming the opportunistic nature of feeding in L. entrecasteauxii. Marked fluctuations in the lizards' monthly food volume were intimately related to the energy demands associated with the various stages of their reproductive cycle. Both males and females maximised food intake just before the mating period, February-May. Food consumption was lowest during the coldest months when the female was overwintering the sperm. The females' food consumption increased during August, just before rapid follicular development and fertilisation by sperm in September-October.