Microhabitat shifts of lizards under different contexts of sympatry: a case study with South American Liolaemus

Summary The Iguanid lizard Liolaemus tenuis is shown to be a rock and trunk dweller (apparently preferring perches between 0–30 cm height) in a central Chilean locality where it coexists with a single ground-dwelling congener. In its southern distributional ranges L. tenuis is sympatric with another tree-dweller, L. pictus. Habitat shift is demonstrated in this latter case by L. tenuis concentrating on tree trunks, and at modal heights 30–60 cm. Liolaemus pictus occupies lower (apparently more favorable) perches, actively interferring with its congener.