Dietary niche of the endangered Psychedelic Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica) in southern Vietnam
H. Ngô, T. Nguyen, Khoi Vu Nguyen, Thomas Ziegler
Animal Biology March 13, 2024 DOI: 10.1163/15707563-bja10130 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational field study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 114 |
| Population | Cnemaspis psychedelica geckos on Hon Khoai Island, Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam |
| Key findings | The diet of Cnemaspis psychedelica comprises diverse invertebrates, with spiders most important in the dry season and ants/wasps in the wet season, and high trophic niche overlap between seasons and sexes. The authors argue that suitable habitat and a particular food spectrum are requirements for the species, informing conservation breeding. |
Abstract
The Psychedelic Rock Gecko (Cnemaspis psychedelica), is a species endemic to southernmost Vietnam. It was recently assessed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List and also included in the CITES Appendix I, due to anthropogenic threats such as habitat degradation and over-collection for the pet trade. To protect wild populations and the natural habitat of this species, knowledge of its demography and ecology is essential to implement fitting conservation measures. In this study, we conducted field surveys on Hon Khoai Island, Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam in both dry and wet seasons, and obtained food contents of 114 individuals of C. psychedelica by water-flushing the stomach without sacrificing them. Consequently, 685 invertebrate items were identified, belonging to 24 different prey types of 20 invertebrate orders, as well as flatworms, snails and plant parts. Araneae, Blattodea, Hymenoptera and Isoptera were identified as the most important prey of C. psychedelica, among which Araneae accounted for the highest percentage, and thus the highest importance index, during the dry season and Hymenoptera during the wet season. There was a large overlap in the trophic niche between the two seasons, and between males and females of C. psychedelica. This study shows that not only suitable habitat but also a particular food spectrum is a requirement for the species and this, in addition, is important to optimize conservation breeding programs.