Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

"DIET AND DIET CHOICE IN THE COMMON KASHMIR LIZARD, LAUDAKIA TUBERCULATA: GRAY"

Mehraj Bashir, G.Mustaffa Shah and Ulfat Jan

Abstract

Food, feeding habits and diet choice of common Kashmir lizard Laudakia tuberculata:Gray were studies in the Western Hamalayan areas of Kashmir. Methods of direct observation and gut content analyses were employed to study the diet and dietary habits of this lizard. Data were collected on monthly as well as seasonal basis to find out the diet choice of the lizard.The lizard was found to be omnivorous with more tendency towards herbivory. Plant matter predominate and comprised of 67% of diet by weight. Among animal matter which comprised of 33% of the diet by weight coleopterans were predominant. The lizard was found to be opportunistic feeder. Diet changed monthly as well as seasonally as per the availability of the food in the field .