FORAGING ACTIVITY AND DIET OF 4 SYMPATRIC LIZARD SPECIES IN A TROPICAL RAIN-FOREST

Observations on the foraging activity and diets of four sympatric rain forest lizards were used to test previous generalizations based mainly on studies on lizards from arid areas. In contrast to lizards studied in arid areas, an ambush predator (Uranoscodon superciliosa, Iguanida e) eats more hidden and slow moving prey than the most active forager (Kentropyx calcarata, Teiidae). Plica umbra (Iguanidae), an ant specia list, has similar foraging intensity to Anolis punctatus (Iguanidae) a nd is more active than U.superciliosa, which are generalist insectivor es. Plica umbra does not have the behavioral and morphological adaptat ions for myrmecophagy that commonly occur in desert lizards. Uranoscod on superciliosa also does not specialize on large prey, as predicted f or extreme ''sit-and-wait'' lizards in tropical rainforests. Differenc es in the consequences of foraging mode for the diet of lizards betwee n arid and forest areas may be affected by differences in the availabi lity of prey and their distribution in the environment.