Foraging and Diet of a Diurnal Predator (Eumeces laticeps) Feeding on Hidden Prey

Abstract

The diet of Eumeces laticeps consists of a variety of insects and their larvae, snails, isopods, spiders, Anolis lizards, and even juvenile Eumeces. Many of the prey species occur only in leaf litter or under surface objects ("hidden prey") during the predator''s activity period. The diet thus differs from that of visually-oriented lizards. Various measures of prey size correlate with size of the lizard''s trophic structures. Prey types and sizes vary seasonally. Laboratory and field observations of foraging lizards indicate that both visual and chemical cues are important in locating prey. Movement of foraging skinks through leaf litter suggests that hidden prey may also be flushed from diurnal retreats. Two abundant potential prey, velvet ants (Mutillidae) and millipedes (Diplopoda), were avoided.