NOTES ON DIET AND A CASE OF KERATOPHAGY IN THE LIZARD Lepidophyma gaigeae (XANTUSIIDAE) FROM QUERÉTARO, MÉXICO

Abstract

Currently, the feeding ecology of the xantusid lizard Lepidophyma gaigeae is virtually unknown. In this study, we identified the prey of the species from specimens deposited in collections. Our data shows that the diet of this species consists exclusively of insects comprising five orders. Additionally, we report the first case of keratophagy for both the genus and this particular species. The data presented here increase our knowledge of the natural history of this species. Importantly, this information can be used as a reference for future studies pertaining to the ecology and conservation of the species.