Diets of Scincid Lizards Lampropholis-Guichenoti (Dumeril and Bibron) and Lampropholis-Delicata (De Vis) in Mumbulla State Forest on the South Coast of New-South-Wales

Abstract

The diets of the two small scincid lizards Lampropholis guichenoti and L. delicata were examined by analysis of gut contents. The study was conducted in Mumbulla State Forest on the south coast of New South Wales. Gut samples were collected before an intense fire in November 1980, then again in December of 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1984. The study included a period of intense drought from 1980 to 1983. Both species were found to be generalist feeders taking a wide range of invertebrate taxa, mostly insects and spiders. The range of taxa taken as prey indicated that both species foraged over a variety of substrates and were flexible in their foraging behaviour. Both species had a similar diet, except during the drought years when there were significant differences in the proportions of some taxa eaten. That both species are common in the coastal forests near Bega and survived the combined impact of fire and drought can be attributed, at least in part, to the flexibility of their foraging ecology.