ACTIVIDAD REPRODUCTIVA Y DIETA DE HEMIDACTYLUS FRENATUS (SAURIA: GEKKONIDAE) EN EL NORTE DE COLOMBIA

ABSTRACT

Despite its success as an invasive species, little is known about the ecological aspects of the gekkonid lizard Hemidactylus frenatus in Colombia. In the present study the size at maturity, sexual dimorphism, reproductive activity, and diet composition of a population of this species in an urban locality of Northern Colombia were determined. We conducted eleven samplings from September 2011 to August 2012 in buildings of the municipality of Sincelejo. A total of 264 specimens H. frenatus were captured, 112 were adult females, 133 adult males and 19 juveniles. Males reach sexual maturity at a smaller size (snout-vent length) than females (males: 35.7 mm; females: 42.7 mm), also they are larger and have proportionally larger heads and mouths than females. Males were reproductive throughout the year; although testicular volume varied significantly between samples, this variation was not associated with body size and precipitation in the study area. Reproductive adult females were found during all the sampling period. Females have an invariable clutch size of two eggs and we found no differences in the diameter and weight of eggs in each oviduct. The diet of H. frenatus is varied, with Diptera, Hemiptera and Formicidae being the prey types with the greatest relative importance values. Individuals of both sexes consume a similar volume and number of prey. Thus, the studied population of H. frenatus has continuous reproductive activity and a generalist-opportunistic feeding behavior. The climatic conditions of the study area, environmental availability of prey and intrinsic features of this species appear to be responsible for their abundance and colonizing success in this and other localities.

KEY-WORDS:
Gekkonidae; Biological invasions; Reproduction; Diet; Colombia