Morphometrics and dietary composition of the Algerian wall gecko Tarentola neglecta (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) in south-eastern Algeria

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The diet composition, prey diversity, and body size of Tarentola neglecta Strauch, 1895 were investigated in the palm groves of south-eastern Algeria. This study aimed to identify the different prey items and species consumed by T. neglecta and to explore whether there is a relationship between prey number, length and volume and the gecko’s snout-vent length. T. neglecta was captured, measured, and analyzed for stomach contents. Lizards were collected from 2016 to 2017, and stomach-flushes to identify prey were categorized and measured. Prey items were identified under a microscope and categorized taxonomically. Diet diversity was measured with different indices, and statistics were used to examine relationships between body size and feeding traits. A total of 121 adult individuals were captured, with 100 (47 males, 39 females, and 14 juveniles) containing stomach contents. This study identified 315 prey items across three classes, 14 orders, and 37 families. T. neglecta exhibits a diverse diet (FNB = 16.6, H’ = 4.9) consisting of arthropods. Insects dominated the diet (90.2%), with arachnids making up only 2.8% of consumed prey. The housefly was the most important prey item, representing 16.2% of total abundance, with an occurrence frequency of 29% and a relative importance of 36.9%. Diet overlap was high between adult females and juveniles (95%) and between males and females (71%). Prey volume and length increased significantly with snout-vent length, while prey number showed no notable change. Overall, T. neglecta demonstrates opportunistic and adaptable insectivorous behaviour in the date palm groves of Oued-Souf.

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