Common garden lizard Calotes versicolor preying on Brook's gecko Hemidactylus brooki

1 Pages·1991·0.61 MB·

by  Satish Kumar Sharma

MISCELLANEOUSNOTES 459
Allthesesightingshavebeen interpretedas ofescapees occasions in the same month, we observed two pairs,
fromcaptivity,thoughtherehasbeenno evidenceforor one each on Typha at Dethli (Klieda district) and in a
against this view. The biggest flock observed so far sugar-cane field at Kodinar (Amreli district).
constituted 20 birds feeding on sorghum crop Itisevidentfromthedatapresentedthatthemunia
(Parasharya and Patel 1985). has an almost state wide distribution in small numbers
Recently near the Pariej reservoir on 13 and very much limited to specific localities. Presently,
September 1989, six pairs of the blackheaded munia we have information on its breeding only from Pariej,
were seen nesting on Typha. This is the first time the Kheda district, but it presumably breeds in other
munia was seen breeding in Gujarat. The nests were districts also.
barelyvisiblefromoutside.Wecouldlocatethenesting With an increasing number of sightings of the
siteonlybecauseonebirdwasseentakingnestmaterial. blackheaded munia as well as the present report of a
Thenests,made ofreedsand grasses inaball formwith breeding colony, the bird seems to have well
an entrance on one side, were constructed halfway up established wild populations in many parts ofthe state
the stem ofthe plants. All ofthemwere built in a small andmust findaplace inthechecklistofbirds ofGujarat
patch ofTypha coveringan area ofabout 15 sq.m.Four as a residentbird.
nests had eggs in them, the number ofeggs being 2, 3, We are grateful totheICAR forfinancial support.
4 and 6. In one other nest, there were three hatchlings
and one egg, whereas in still another one there were
three 4-5 day old nestlings. Many more pairs might K.L. MATHEW
have been breeding there, but we did not have enough BM. PARASHARYA
time to check the whole area. Soon thereafter, on two November 21, 1989 D.N. YADAV
References
An, S. (1954): The birds ofGujarat, Part II.J. Bombay nat 575-612.
HistSoc.52:735-802. Parasharya,B.M.&Patel,R.C.(1985) Anewdistributional
:
Au, S. &Ripley,S.D. (1983): HandbookoftheBirdsofIndia range ofblackheaded muniaLonchura malacca.Pavo
and Pakistan (Compact edition). Oxford University 23(1&2):105-106.
Press,Delhi. Siuvrajkumar, K. (1985): Blackheaded Munia, Lonchura
Monga, S.G. & Naoroji, R.K. (1983): Birds ofthe Rajpipla malaccainJasdan,Gujarat.J.BombaynatHist.Soc.82
forests, South Gujarat J. Bombay nat. Hist Soc. 80: (1):298-309.
COMMON GARDEN LIZARD CALOTES VERSICOLOR PREYING ON BROOK’S
28.
GECKO HEMIDACTYLUS BROOKI
The food habits of the common garden lizard wagging itstail. Itshind legswere also in motion in an
Calotes versicolor (Daudin) have been described by effort to escape. Despite all the efforts madeby gecko,
J.C. Daniel (the book of Indian reptiles, 1983). within eight minutes the process of swallowing was
According to him it prefers insects but occasionally completed.
mayfeedonsmallbirds,nestlings,frogsandothersmall The common garden lizard and Brook’s gecko
animals. S.K. Sharma JBNHS 88(2): 290-291) has both live on trunks oftrees in the Arboretum. Both are
(
recorded this species feeding on its own young ones insectivorous and seemto be competitors for food, but
also. the garden lizard is at an advantage as-its feeding area
On26April 1991,atabout 1200hrs,Iobservedan is not limited to tree trunks, but also extends to the
adult common gardenlizard onthe trunkofanAlbizzia ground inthevicinity.By preyinggeckos,the common
lebbeck tree in the World Forestry Arboretum, Jaipur, garden lizards reduces competition and also gets a
which was swallowing a sub-adult Brook’s gecko substantial meal.
Hemidactylusbrooki Gray. Thehead ofthe prey was in
the mouth of the predator and the helpless gecko was May 23, 1989 SATISH KUMAR SHARMA