Natural history of the tropical gecko Phyllopezus pollicaris (Squamata, Phyllodactylidae) from a sandstone outcrop in Central Brazil

Natural history aspects of the Neotropical gecko Phyllopezus pollicaris were studied at Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, in the Cerrado region of Central Brazil. Despite initial prospection at different types of habitats, all individuals were collected at sandstone outcrops within savannahs. Most individuals were observed at night, but several specimens were found active during daytime. Body temperatures were significantly higher in day-active individuals. We did not detect sexual dimorphism in size, shape, weight, or body condition. All adult males were reproductively mature, in contrast to just two adult females (11%), one of which contained two oviductal eggs. Dietary data indicates that P. pollicaris feeds upon a variety of arthropods. Dietary overlap between sexes and age classes was moderate to high. The rate of caudal autotomy varied between age classes but not between sexes. Our data, the first for a population of P. pollicaris from a savannah habitat, are in overall agreement with observations made in populations from Caatinga and Dry Forest, except for microhabitat use and reproductive cycle.