SREL Reprint #1786

Tree and substrate selection in the semi-arboreal scincid lizard Eumeces laticeps

William E. Cooper, Jr1 and Laurie J. Vitt2

1Department of Biological Sciences, Indiana University Purdue University at Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805, USA
2Oklahoma Museum of Natural History and Zoology Department, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA 

Abstract: Broad-headed skinks occupied a range of substrates during the daily activity period. Although they foraged and engaged in social behaviour on the ground, two-thirds of individuals were initially observed on trees and other vertical surfaces. In using both trees and ground as sites for foraging and social activities, these skinks are similar in microhabitat use to trunk ground anoles. Substrate occupation differed significantly between adults and juveniles, adults occurring more frequently on oaks and ground, juveniles on walls, pine trees, and palmettos. Adult males and females had substantially, but not quite significantly different substrate distributions. The lizards occupied oak trees much more frequently than expected by chance, strongly preferring them to palmettos and pines. There is some evidence that they may actively avoid pines. No significant differences were detected in perch height among age and sex categories during the daily activity period, but sample sizes were small and differences might occur at other times of day or in other seasons.

SREL Reprint #1786

Cooper, W.E. and L.J. Vitt. 1994. Tree and substrate selection in the semi-arboreal scincid lizard Eumeces laticeps. Herpetological Journal 4:20-23.

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).