Title:

Meroles cuneirostris (wedge-snouted sand lizard) cannibalism

Publication Year:
2013
Abstract:

On 27 December 2011 near the Gobabeb Training and Research Centre, Erongo, Namibia (23.561986°S, 15.041616°E, datum WGS84; 408 m elev.) we observed a juvenile Meroles cuneirostris being eaten by a conspecific adult female (SVL = 44 mm; tail length = 72 mm; 2.6 g). At ca. 1100 h, while attempting to capture the juvenile, an adult female dashed from underneath a small bush and began to chase the juvenile. The chase lasted less than 30 sec. before the female captured the juvenile, biting down on its head and then violently shook her own head. The juvenile then briefly escaped but was recaptured in the same manner.

Publication Title:

Herpetological Review

Issue:
44
Number:
4
Pages:
675-676
Item Type:
Journal Article
Language:
en
Files:
Attachment Size
Meroles cuneirostris cannibalism.pdf 1.15 MB