Preferência alimentar em lagartos teiús , pertencentes a espécie Salvator merianae (Duméri l & Bibron, 1839)

Abstract

The suborder Sauria, corresponds to the group with the highest diversity of species within the Squamata, totaling 7310 currently living species. For Brazil are found 387 species divided into 86 genus. The tegulizard, targed of this work , belongs to the Teiidae famil y and the Salvator merianae species , but there are other animals popularly called tegus belonging to the genus Tupinambis . The tegulizard is the representative of the largest lizard found in Brazil, reaching up to 500mm in Snout- vent length (SVL). S. merianae has an elongated body, a pointed snout and a whip- shaped tail, similar characteristics to those of the Teiidae family. The objective of this work is to observe and clarify whether the target species has a food preference. According to the literature, this species has omnivorous, generalist, opportunistic and seed - dispersing eating habits, but little is said about having a preference for certain types of food to the point of making choices. For the experiment, seven adult animals, were used, males and in full health, were offered several pairs of food separated in feeders, in the amount of 50g for each type of food and observed which animals invested, fed and if all was ingested, within 20 minutes. The foods offered were animal protein (mouse, beef or chicken), fruits, eggs and industrialized feed. The results previously showed that the lizards studied, showed a food preference, sometimes invested in a feeder due to the smell of the food, but did not consume it, later they went to the second feeder and ingested the food, this found that there was a choic e of food item.