Bread and cookies: allotriophagy in a worm lizard (Squamata: Amphisbaenia)

Allotriophagy refers to the consumption of food items considered abnormal for a given species. In this note, we report the recurrent consumption of bread and cookie crumbs by a free-ranging worm lizard (Amphisbaena sp.) in Brazil. While there are a few isolated reports of worm lizards consuming unusual food items, this is the first documented case of such behavior in a wild specimen occurring over several months, potentially involving the same individual. Allotriophagy in wild worm lizards may be triggered by nutritional deficiencies or opportunistic feeding. Documenting these cases is important for advancing our understanding of worm lizard behavior, particularly in urban environments.

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Publication Details

Journal
Acta Herpetologica
Published
2025-09-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.36253/a_h-17538
Primary Topic
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Bread and cookies: allotriophagy in a worm lizard (Squamata: Amphisbaenia)

Carlos Henrique de Oliveira Nogueira, Carolina L. Paiva
Acta Herpetologica
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
article

Bread and cookies: allotriophagy in a worm lizard (Squamata: Amphisbaenia)

Carlos Henrique de Oliveira Nogueira, Carolina L. Paiva
article en

Abstract

Allotriophagy refers to the consumption of food items considered abnormal for a given species. In this note, we report the recurrent consumption of bread and cookie crumbs by a free-ranging worm lizard (Amphisbaena sp.) in Brazil. While there are a few isolated reports of worm lizards consuming unusual food items, this is the first documented case of such behavior in a wild specimen occurring over several months, potentially involving the same individual. Allotriophagy in wild worm lizards may be triggered by nutritional deficiencies or opportunistic feeding. Documenting these cases is important for advancing our understanding of worm lizard behavior, particularly in urban environments.

Acta HerpetologicaVol. 20(2)
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (BR), Hospital Universitário - Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
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