Abstract
The empirical data on diet of many reptilian species of Pakistan are scarce. We aimed to document major dietary items of Black Rock Agama (Laudakia melanura) in rocky habitat, croplands, areas around human habitations and natural streams of Mori Said Ali Game Reserve (AJ&K) using stomach-content flushing and fecal analysis. Of the recorded 17 dietary items, ten (59%) were of plant origin and seven (41%) were of animal origin. Pyrus pashia (80%) and Isodon rugosus (0.37 ml) were recorded as the most frequent plant species in fecal samples and stomach contents, respectively. The majority of insects consumed by the lizard species were Coleopterans (0.22 ml) followed by Hymenopterans (0.18 ml) and Hemipterans (0.18%). The similarity index showed that the similarity in food items at sites “rocky habitat-human habitations” and “rocky-stream habitat” was highest (38% each) followed by “human habitations-stream habitat” (33%), rocky habitat-cropland habitat (30%), “cropland habitat- human habitations and cropland habitat- stream habitat (24% each) whereas the similarity in food items taxa using stomach content analysis at sites “rocky habitat-cropland habitat” was highest (87%) followed by “stream habitat-rocky habitat” and “stream habitatcropland habitat” (66% each), “rocky habitat-human habitat” (25% each). Our findings established omnivory in the species for the first time. The lizard species feeds on non-woody vegetation such as grasses, herbs and shrubs and also ingests insects.

MISBAH RAZZAQ, MUHAMMAD RAIS, MUHAMMAD ARSLAN, ASADI, SALEHA ABBASI , ABDULLAH IBRAHIM. (2020) Diet composition of black rock Agama (Laudakia melanura), Biologia – Journal of Biological Society of Pakistan, Volume 66(I), Issue 1.
  • Views 913
  • Downloads 185

Article Details

Volume
Issue
Type
Language