ENERGETIC COST OF FEEDING AN DIFFERENT KINDS OF PREY FOR THE LIZARD CHALCIDES OCELLATUS

1. Skinks (Chalcides ocellatus) used 50% more energy to crush and swal low hard-bodied insect prey (Tenebrio molitor beetles) than medium- an d soft-bodied prey (Tenebrio molitor larvae and Manduca sexta larvae, respectively). 2. Even for beetles, however, the energy cost of prey h andling was no more than 1% of the energy assimilated. 3. Differences in handling times are probably more important than differences in ener getic costs in determining the desirability of different types of prey .