DENSITY-DEPENDENT FORAGING STRATEGY OF A LARGE CARNIVOROUS LIZARD, THE SAVANNA MONITOR (VARANUS-ALBIGULARIS)

Captive, subadult white-throated savanna monitor lizards (Varanus albi gularis; n = 15) were tested in a prey density-dependent foraging expe riment. Within a test arena individual lizards were offered 10 large a nd 10 small snails in both a large and small circular area. Results sh owed that at high prey density, these lizards selected large over smal l snails. At low prey densities, however, large and small snails were selected at an equal rate. Apparently, when prey densities are high, t he lizards have the opportunity to select the larger prey items withou t incurring locomotor costs. These data support optimal foraging theor y but are unique in that they are an example from a little-studied, wi dely foraging species of lizard.