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- Title
Predation of a Juvenile Iguana rhinolopha (Squamata: Iguanidae) by Basiliscus plumifrons (Squamata: Corytophanidae) in the Costa Rican Rainforest.
- Authors
ALVARADO, RANDY; ALVARADO, ELIÁN VILLALOBOS; LÓPEZ, LUCIA I.; UMAÑA, DINIA; MORA, JOSÉ MANUEL
- Abstract
Lizards play key roles in ecosystems where they are prey for a wide variety of predators, including snakes, other lizards, mammals, birds, and invertebrates. The Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons; Squamata: Iguania: Corytophanidae) and the Green Iguana (Iguana rhinolopha; Squamata: Iguania: Iguanidae) are two large lizards usually found sympatrically in the lowland humid forests of Central America, and show the same diurnal, arboreal habits; both species are found near bodies of water. Male Green Iguanas can reach two meters in length; females up to 1.4 m. This species possesses a notable crest of comb-like spines along the neck, back, and tail, and a greatly enlarged smooth scale on the side of the throat. It is green, particularly so the juvenile individuals, and they commonly develop darker wavy transverse dorsal crossbands. The Green Basilisk can exceed 0.9 m in total length, although females are shorter. The coloration is emerald green with strikingly yellow eyes and conspicuous crests are present on the head, dorsum, and tail. This species feeds mainly on insects and other arthropods, but it also consumes flowers and fruits and occasionally eats vertebrates such as small lizards. On July 11, 2022 at 09:36 h we observed an adult Green Basilisk preying on a young Green Iguana at Selva Verde Lodge, located in tropical wet forest in northern Costa Rica. Herein, we present the details of this event in the context of lizard predatory encounters.
- Subjects
LIZARDS; SQUAMATA; CORYTOPHANIDAE
- Publication
Caribbean Journal of Science, 2022, Vol 52, Issue 2, p203
- ISSN
0008-6452
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.18475/cjos.v52i2.a7