J. Vanderwinden et al., HABITAT RELATED DISRUPTIVE PATTERN DISTRIBUTION IN THE POLYMORPHIC LIZARD MABUYA-VITTATA, Acta oecologica, 16(4), 1995, pp. 423-430
Mabuya vittata is a highly polymorphic diurnal lizard, occurring in hi
gh densities (20-160/ha) in the Goksu Delta in southeastern Turkey. Tw
o dorsal pattern types were distinguished, uniform or effectively unif
orm and striped. In the hills and dunes 93% (n=311) of the adult anima
ls was uniform and in the agricultural parts of the delta 73% (n=175)
was striped. 74% (n=464) of M. vittata was found in the herb layer. In
the hills and dunes the relative share of grasses is low in this laye
r, in the agricultural area grasses have a high coverage. Strong corre
lations were found between the striped pattern and high grass coverage
, and between the uniform pattern and a low grass coverage, assuming d
isruptive selection by visually hunting predators.