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Feeding ecology of the Tasmanian spotted skink, Niveoscincus ocellatus (Squamata : Scincidae)
Citation
Wapstra, E and Swain, R, Feeding ecology of the Tasmanian spotted skink, Niveoscincus ocellatus (Squamata : Scincidae), Australian Journal of Zoology, 44, (2) pp. 205-13. ISSN 0004-959X (1996) [Refereed Article]
Abstract
The feeding ecology of the spotted skink, Niveoscincus ocellatus, was examined over a 6-month period, from October to March, with additional data from one sample in midwinter. The investigation considered feeding activity, dietary composition and foraging strategy. Feeding activity,measured by stomach fullness, was unrelated to age, sex or reproductive status and showed little variation during the warmer months; in winter feeding was greatly reduced. N. ocellatus exhibits flexible foraging behaviour; a wide variety of terrestrial arthropods is taken opportunistically in accordance with a wide ranging foraging strategy. However, the consistent occurrence of cryptic and hidden prey indicates that active search foraging is also utilised. No evidence for ambush predation was found and, unlike many other small skinks, few arboreal or aerial prey are included in the diet, even though the habitat is rock scree and woodland where such prey abound. No evidence for any in a specific partitioning of diet based on kind or size of prey was obtained although a slight, but significant, correlation exists between maximum prey size and lizard size.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Terrestrial ecology |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences |
UTAS Author: | Wapstra, E (Associate Professor Erik Wapstra) |
UTAS Author: | Swain, R (Dr Roy Swain) |
ID Code: | 8842 |
Year Published: | 1996 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 24 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 1996-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-08-22 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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