Interspecific and Seasonal Variation of Daily Activity Times in Gekkonid Lizards (Reptilia, Lacertilia)

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Abstract
Daily activity of Alsophylax blanfordii, Cyrtodactylus kotschyi, Gehyra variegata, Hemidactylus turcicus, Pachydactylus laevigatus, Ptyodactylus hasselquistii guttatus, P.h. cf. hasselquistii, P.h. puiseuxi, P. hasselquistii ssp. (from Upper Volta), Stenodactylus sthenodactylus and Tarentola mauritanica was recorded by actographs during the 4 annual seasons and of Ceramodactylus doriae, Cyrtodactylus amictopholis and Stenodactylus petrii during 1 season only. Room temperature was 30.degree. C during the day and not less than 18.degree. C at night. Light was put on according to the corresponding sunrise and sunset times. All individuals had been acclimated together in the vivarium for at least 6 mo. before experimentation. Animals were 3 days in the actograph without food or water. The degree of nocturnality and the distribution of activity along day and night were measured. Israeli geckos distributed in arid regions are more nocturnal than those living in more humid areas or those distributed throughout Israel and Sinai. One taxon was diurnal, seven diurno-nocturnal and 6 nocturnal animals. Taxa all showed ecological segregation when compared with respect to one or more of the parameters: size, habitat topography, climate and daily activity time. In winter activity of all taxa but 1 was more diurnal than in summer; P. hasselquisti ssp. was nocturnal all year round. There are several patterns in changing of daily activity distribution with seasons, and this helps to separate between taxa and specify their activity times.

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