DEPREDACIÓN DEL ANOLIS COMÚN, Anolis humilis, POR LA CHISBALA CENTROAMERICANA Holcosus festivus

José Manuel Mora; Steven  Matute; Elián   Villalobos Alvarado; Gerardo Chaves; Lucía Isabel  López

doi:10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.2.922

Authors

José Manuel Mora Universidad Técnica Nacional, Sede Central. Carrera de Gestión Ecoturística, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Steven Matute Universidad Técnica Nacional
Elián Villalobos Alvarado Carrera de Gestión Ecoturística, Sede Central, Universidad Técnica Nacional, Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Gerardo Chaves Unidad de Ciencias Básicas and Carrera de Tecnología de Alimentos, Sede Atenas, Universidad Técnica Nacional, Costa Rica.
Lucía Isabel López Carrera de Gestión Ecoturística, Sede Central, Universidad Técnica Nacional, Alajuela, Costa Rica.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2024.2.922

Keywords:

Costa Rica, La Selva, leaf litter, lizards, Reptiles, Tropical Wet Forest

Abstract

In Costa Rica there are 88 lizard species including active foraging species such as the Central America Whiptail, Holcosus festivus, and sit and wait specialists such as the Humble Anole, Anolis humilis. We observed a predation event between these two species at La Selva Biological Station in the northern lowlands of Costa Rica. A juvenile Whiptail captured and consumed a juvenile anole on the forest floor of this rain forest. The primary activity patterns of the Humble Anole and the Central American Whiptail are likely to lead to frequent encounters between these two species. Despite that, it is surprising that this predatory interaction has not been observed or reported before, and it is currently unclear how often or how significant anoles could be for the Central American Whiptail's diet.

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