Abundance and Morphometric Study of Some Lizards (Agama Lizard, Skinks and Wall Gecko) in the University Community in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo University as a Case Study

Abstract

This study investigated the abundance and some morphometric parameters of lizards (Agama. agama, Hemadactylus. brookii, Trachylepis. affinis and Trachylepis. quinquetaeniata) in the University campus, Ile-Ife. The specimens were collected in five different locations in the University campus. The samples were collected with sweep nets in all the locations. A total of 624 specimen of lizards (324 of A. agama, 185 of H. brookii, 60 of T. affinis and 55 of T. quinquetaeniata) were caught in all the locations and external body measurement was carried out with the help of calliper. A. agama was found to be abundant in all the locations followed by H. brookii. The number of Skinks (T. affinis and T. quinquetaeniata) in the residential area was low but high in University parks and garden and markets. The morphometric parameters showed that A. agama was different in all the parameters measured compared to the rest specimens and it was expected since the specimens were not of the same family except the Skinks (T. affinis and T. quinquetaeniata). There were similarity in values of some of the measured body parts of H. brookii, T. affinis and T. quinquetaeniata. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) showed that all the specimens differ in Tail length, Tail width, and Trunk length. In conclusion, the abundance of the Lizards in the University call for concern because their waste can contaminate food and cause infection since they are hosts to a number of parasites.