Foraging mode of a Madagascan iguanian lizard, Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri

The foraging mode of lizards has been extensively studied in members of most major families. One neglected taxon is Opluridae, a distinct Iguanian group endemic to Madagascar. We studied the foraging mode of Oplurus cuvieri cuvieri in a dry forest in north-western Madagascar. Quantitative data on the number of movements per minute and percentage of time spent in moving indicated that O. c. cuvieri is a typical ambusher, although the lizard occasionally fed on plant materials by active foraging. Possible seasonal changes in foraging activity were suggested. The results support the previous view that insectivorous iguanian lizards are ambush foragers.