ECOLOGY OF THE LIZARD NOROPS OXYLOPHUS (POLYCHROTIDAE) IN LOWLAND FOREST OF SOUTHEASTERN NICARAGUA

The lizard Norops oxylophus used a variety of microhabitats distribute d linearly along streams in southeastern Nicaragua. Body temperatures averaged 27.8 degrees C and lizards typically were in shade. Lizards s pent 98.16% of their time stationary and 1.84% moving. The rate of mov ement was low (0.001 m . s(-1)) even when corrected for time not movin g (0.071 m . s(-1)). Caterpillars, spiders, antsl and various orthopte rans composed most of the diet. Prey size was only weakly correlated w ith lizard snout-vent length (SVL) and there was no sexual difference in prey size independent of SVL. Lizards averaged 0.01 prey attacks/mi n and most lizards spent less than 0.15% of their time feeding, Males were larger than females, but females had a relatively larger body and greater mass. Females reach sexual maturity at 49 mm SVL and produce clutches of a single egg in rapid succession. Males reach sexual matur ity at 53 mm SVL. Many ecological characteristics of N. oxylophus refl ect a set of characteristics evolving early in the N. fuscoauratus ser ies of the anoline lineage that has contributed to their ecological su ccess in stream habitats of Caribbean lowland forest.