Field and Captivity Observations of the Lizard Gonatodes vittatus (Gekkonomorpha: Sphaerodactylini) in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Gonatodes vittatus was observed in Trinidad, both in the field and in captivity. In the field it occurred on trees and masonry walls, and on and inside wooden houses. At least some individuals showed great site fidelity to their retreats. Males and females were territorial; in captivity males required about twice the area that females did, and in the field the sex ratio (males:females) varied from 50:100 to 71:100. The natural life span was at least 3 years. In houses, the predators of G. vittatus included the larger gecko species; and in captivity, death sometimes accompanied faulty moulting (sloughing). The diel cycle was characteristically diurnal, and emergence was temperature-dependent. G. vittatus is a sit-and-wait forager, and individuals preferred a vertical perch posture with the head pointing down, irrespective of the height above the ground. At night, some individuals living in protected areas slept on the walls in the open. New locality records for G. vittatus include one in north-eastern Tobago at 11 °18'50"N, 60°32'30" W.