Feeding Ecology of Laudakia tuberculata, Gray 1827 in the Garhwal Region (Northwestern Himalaya)

The diet of Laudakia tuberculata was studied across three populations in the Garhwal region of the North-Western Himalayas from January to December 2021. Visual observations using focal sampling in the wild and the collection of faecal samples along one-kilometer-long line transects, were conducted at three study sites: Subtropical broadleaf forests (S1), Subtropical pine mixed forests (S2), and Subtropical Temperate mixed forests (S3). The diet predominantly comprised plant parts (leaves, flowers, and fruits), arthropods (particularly insects and larvae) along with annelids such as earthworms, and even skinks. A total of 29 plant species representing 21 distinct families were identified through visual observations, with Asteraceae contributing the most (20.69%), followed by Cucurbitaceae and Rosaceae each 6.9%, while the remaining families contributed equally at 3.45%. Analysis of 279 faecal samples revealed nine insect orders, with Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, and Orthoptera being the most frequently consumed throughout the year. Other orders, like Blattodea, Diptera, Hemiptera, Mantodea, Neuroptera, and Lepidoptera were present but specific to certain localities.