Sex and seasonal variation in the diet of the Mountain Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma orbiculare)

Food acquisition is fundamental in animals. Some dietary studies of Phrynosoma have shown a strong intake of ants. The present study details sexual and seasonal variations in diet characteristics, analyzed through stomach flushing of 59 adults of Phrynosoma orbiculare captured in the State of Mexico, México. This population is strongly myrmecophagous within the genus Phrynosoma and the most myrmecophagus within the Tapaja clade. There are sexual and seasonal variation in ant consumption, a generalized linear model showed differences in diet for both factors. This study allows for comparisons with other studies of diets within species and genus and may be crucial in planning for the conservation and recovery of this and other Phrynosoma species.