First necrophagy record for the genus Leiocephalus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in Cuba
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Published
Jan 21, 2025
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Abstract
In the backyard of an urban residence in San Antonio de los Baños, Artemisa Province, Cuba, an adult Leiocephalus c. carinatus Gray, 1827 was observed performing necrophagy over a two-week period. The lizard consumed domestic cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and a ground beetle (Carabidae), both of which were fully dehydrated and had been dead for at least three weeks. This behavior is the first instance of necrophagy recorded in Cuba for a Leiocephalus species. Additionally, a list of all the recorded cases of necrophagy in this genus is provided.
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lizard, natural history, diet, Antilles, Cuba
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Armas, L. F. de. (1987). Notas sobre la alimentación de Leiocephalus carinatus cayensis (Sauria: Iguanidae). Poeyana, (350), 1–7.
Armas, L. F. de. (2022). Newly introduced populations of the Saw-scaled Curlytail, Leiocephalus carinatus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in eastern Artemisa Province, Cuba, with observations on prey. Reptiles & Amphibians, (29), 340–341. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v29i1.18122
Cajigas, A. G., Torres, J. & Torres, O. J. (2015). A New Trophic Resource in the Diet of the Saw-tailed Curlytail, Leiocephalus carinatus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in Cuba. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians, (22), 150–152. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v22i4.14070
Fong G., A. & Garcés G., G. (2002). Composición y variación estacional de la dieta de Leiocephalus carinatus (Sauria: Iguanidae) en Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Boletín de la Sociedad Herpetológica Mexicana, 10(2), 29–34.
Henderson, R. W. & Powell, R. (2009). Natural History of West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Hüppop, K. (2012). Adaptation to low food, pp.1–8, In: Culver, D.C. & White, W.B. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Caves. 2nd ed. Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.
Iverson, J. B. & Smith, G. R. (2006). Leiocephalus psammodromus (Turks and Caicos Curly-tail Lizard). Necrophagy. Herpetological Review, 37(3), 345–346.
Kircher, B. K., Robinson, C. D. & Johnson, M. A. (2014). Herbivory in the Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus). Caribbean Herpetology, (50), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.31611/ch.50
Martínez-Reyes, M. & Moreno García, L. V. (2003). Lagartos habitantes de los suelos, pp. 90–97. In: L. Rodríguez-Schettino (ed.), Anfibios y Reptiles de Cuba. UPC Print, Vaasa, Finlandia.
Powell, R. (2004). Species profile. Saw-scaled Curlytail (Leiocephalus carinatus). Iguania, 11(3), 153.
Powell, R. & Henderson, R.W. (2012). Island lists of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History, 51(2), 85–166.
Reynolds, R. G. (2009). Leiocephalus psammodromus (Turks and Caicos Curly-tailed Lizard). Conspecific necrophagy. Herpetological Review, 40(1), 88–89.
Rodríguez-Schettino, L. (2000). Cuban reptiles: Original citations, holotypes, and geographic ranges. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service, (125), 1–28.
Sazima, I. & Strüssmann, C. (1990). Necrofagia em serpentes brasileiras: exemplos e previsões. Revista Brasileira de Biologia, (50), 463–468.
Schoener, T. W., Slade, J. B. & Stinson, C. H. (1982). Diet and sexual dimorphism in the very catholic lizard genus Leiocephalus of Bahamas. Oecología, 53(2), 160–169.
Schreiber, M. C., Powell, R., Parmelee Jr., J. S., Lathrop, A. & Smith, D. D. (1993). Natural history of a small population of Leiocephalus schreibersii (Sauria: Tropiduridae) from altered habitat in the Dominican Republic. Florida Scientist, (56), 18–27.
Schwartz, A. & Henderson R. (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.
Armas, L. F. de. (2022). Newly introduced populations of the Saw-scaled Curlytail, Leiocephalus carinatus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in eastern Artemisa Province, Cuba, with observations on prey. Reptiles & Amphibians, (29), 340–341. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v29i1.18122
Cajigas, A. G., Torres, J. & Torres, O. J. (2015). A New Trophic Resource in the Diet of the Saw-tailed Curlytail, Leiocephalus carinatus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in Cuba. IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians, (22), 150–152. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v22i4.14070
Fong G., A. & Garcés G., G. (2002). Composición y variación estacional de la dieta de Leiocephalus carinatus (Sauria: Iguanidae) en Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Boletín de la Sociedad Herpetológica Mexicana, 10(2), 29–34.
Henderson, R. W. & Powell, R. (2009). Natural History of West Indian Reptiles and Amphibians. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Hüppop, K. (2012). Adaptation to low food, pp.1–8, In: Culver, D.C. & White, W.B. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Caves. 2nd ed. Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego, California, USA.
Iverson, J. B. & Smith, G. R. (2006). Leiocephalus psammodromus (Turks and Caicos Curly-tail Lizard). Necrophagy. Herpetological Review, 37(3), 345–346.
Kircher, B. K., Robinson, C. D. & Johnson, M. A. (2014). Herbivory in the Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus). Caribbean Herpetology, (50), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.31611/ch.50
Martínez-Reyes, M. & Moreno García, L. V. (2003). Lagartos habitantes de los suelos, pp. 90–97. In: L. Rodríguez-Schettino (ed.), Anfibios y Reptiles de Cuba. UPC Print, Vaasa, Finlandia.
Powell, R. (2004). Species profile. Saw-scaled Curlytail (Leiocephalus carinatus). Iguania, 11(3), 153.
Powell, R. & Henderson, R.W. (2012). Island lists of West Indian amphibians and reptiles. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History, 51(2), 85–166.
Reynolds, R. G. (2009). Leiocephalus psammodromus (Turks and Caicos Curly-tailed Lizard). Conspecific necrophagy. Herpetological Review, 40(1), 88–89.
Rodríguez-Schettino, L. (2000). Cuban reptiles: Original citations, holotypes, and geographic ranges. Smithsonian Herpetological Information Service, (125), 1–28.
Sazima, I. & Strüssmann, C. (1990). Necrofagia em serpentes brasileiras: exemplos e previsões. Revista Brasileira de Biologia, (50), 463–468.
Schoener, T. W., Slade, J. B. & Stinson, C. H. (1982). Diet and sexual dimorphism in the very catholic lizard genus Leiocephalus of Bahamas. Oecología, 53(2), 160–169.
Schreiber, M. C., Powell, R., Parmelee Jr., J. S., Lathrop, A. & Smith, D. D. (1993). Natural history of a small population of Leiocephalus schreibersii (Sauria: Tropiduridae) from altered habitat in the Dominican Republic. Florida Scientist, (56), 18–27.
Schwartz, A. & Henderson R. (1991). Amphibians and Reptiles of the West Indies: Descriptions, Distributions, and Natural History. University of Florida Press, Gainesville.
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How to Cite
Armas, L. F. de, & Iturriaga, M. (2025). First necrophagy record for the genus Leiocephalus (Squamata: Leiocephalidae) in Cuba. Novitates Caribaea, (25), 77–82. https://doi.org/10.33800/nc.vi25.372
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