Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia

Gymnophthalmidae is a family of Neotropical lizards from which its ecology has been widely studied in the lowlands. However, the life history of Andean species is still poorly known. Apparently, these species are tolerant to anthropic habitats. The objective of this study is to describe some aspect...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Méndez Galeano, Miguel Ángel
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2020
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/95931
Aporte de:
id I19-R120-10915-95931
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Zoología
Andean species
Urbanization
Artificial substrate
Sexual dimorphism
Anthropic impact
Gymnophthalmidae
Especies andinas
Urbanización
Sustrato artificial
Dimorfismo sexual
Impacto antrópico
spellingShingle Zoología
Andean species
Urbanization
Artificial substrate
Sexual dimorphism
Anthropic impact
Gymnophthalmidae
Especies andinas
Urbanización
Sustrato artificial
Dimorfismo sexual
Impacto antrópico
Méndez Galeano, Miguel Ángel
Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia
topic_facet Zoología
Andean species
Urbanization
Artificial substrate
Sexual dimorphism
Anthropic impact
Gymnophthalmidae
Especies andinas
Urbanización
Sustrato artificial
Dimorfismo sexual
Impacto antrópico
description Gymnophthalmidae is a family of Neotropical lizards from which its ecology has been widely studied in the lowlands. However, the life history of Andean species is still poorly known. Apparently, these species are tolerant to anthropic habitats. The objective of this study is to describe some aspects of the biology of one species of this family, Riama striata, in a highly urbanized locality in the Eastern Cordillera of the Colombian Andes. I describe microhabitat use, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the species. Riama striata uses both artificial and natural substrates that are mainly microhabitats of rock or concrete, and males prefer bricks even though this is the least frequent refuge available. The species has a bimodal diurnal activity, particularly on sunny days. It is sexually dimorphic in the size of the head; males have larger heads. There is a high abundance of individuals, with a greater number of females and juveniles than males. These results, together with those of other Andean species contrast sharply with the studies in gymnophthalmids and alopoglosids of the lowlands and raise new hypotheses about the ecology and life history of these lizards and how they respond to the effects of anthropic impact.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Méndez Galeano, Miguel Ángel
author_facet Méndez Galeano, Miguel Ángel
author_sort Méndez Galeano, Miguel Ángel
title Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia
title_short Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia
title_full Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia
title_fullStr Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia
title_full_unstemmed Use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the Andean lizard Riama striata (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of Colombia
title_sort use of microhabitat, shelter preference, activity patterns, population structure and sexual dimorphism of the andean lizard riama striata (squamata: gymnophthalmidae) in a high-altitude urban area of colombia
publishDate 2020
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/95931
work_keys_str_mv AT mendezgaleanomiguelangel useofmicrohabitatshelterpreferenceactivitypatternspopulationstructureandsexualdimorphismoftheandeanlizardriamastriatasquamatagymnophthalmidaeinahighaltitudeurbanareaofcolombia
bdutipo_str Repositorios
_version_ 1764820493383237632