Phymaturus zapalensis: Diet

Abstract

Phymaturus has been described as an entirely viviparous and strictly herbivorous genus (Cei 1986. Reptiles del Centro, Centro-oeste y Sur de la Argentina. Herpetofauna de las Zonas Áridas y Semiáridas. Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Torino, Italy. 527 pp.; Espinoza et al. 2004. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:16819–16824; Córdoba et al. 2015. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 86:1004–1013). However, individuals of Phymaturus zapalensis feed on mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) in captivity. Phymaturus zapalensis is a medium-sized liolaemid lizard endemic to rocky outcrops within and around Laguna Blanca National Park in Zapala, Occidental District, Neuquén Province, Argentina (39.07088°S, 70.38864°W, WGS 84; elev. 824–1312 m). Herein we report on the first evidence of carnivory (insectivory) in wild P. zapalensis.