Gastric suction as an alternative method in studies of lizard diets: tests in two species of Enyalius (Squamata)

Abstract

In this study an alternative method for collecting stomach contents in small lizards was developed seeking to maintain the specimens alive. The “gastric suction” method was performed on adult lizards Enyalius bilineatus and E. perditus. These animals were collected in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. To evaluate the survival rate of the lizards subjected to gastric suction and the efficiency of the method, differentiated treatments were statistically performed. The results were consistent enough for the gastric suction to be considered efficient and much less invasive than other traditional methods that have killed numerous animals in diet studies.

Keywords:

• Atlantic Forest
• Enyalius
• gastric suction
• lizard diet
• method of collecting

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (PPG – Comportamento e Biologia Animal) and CAPES for the aid and financial support provided; to Juiz de Fora town hall for the reserve access permission; to IBAMA for the animals' collection permit (227/2003, Fauna/MG) and to the Comissão de Ética na Experimentação Animal da Pró‐Reitoria de Pesquisa – UFJF (47/2003). I am grateful to Bernadete M. de Sousa and Iara Novelli (UFJF) for the articles provided; to Anne Zillikens and two anonymous reviewers for constructive comments on the manuscript; and to Valério De P. Pillar (UFRGS), Walter Nisa‐Castro‐Neto (ULBRA‐Torres), and Leandro da S. Duarte (UFRGS) for the suggestions on the statistical analyses.