The ecology of the skink Mabuya frenata in an area of rock outcrops in Southeastern Brazil

Mabuya frenata is a relatively common skink in the region of Valinhos, Sao Paulo State, Southeastern Brazil, an area with a highly seasonal climate. The activity, thermal ecology, habitat use, and diet of this species were studied in the vincinity of Valinhos. Lizards were active throughout daylight periods, but the activity pattern differed among seasons, being more uniform in the rainy season than in the dry season. The mean body temperature of active M. frenata was 31.6 +/- 3.2 C and was correlated with air and substrate temperatures, although direct insolation may also be an important heat source for this lizard. Unlike environmental temperatures, the mean activity temperature of M. frenata did not differ among seasons, which, combined with field observations, suggests that this lizard thermoregulates. The microhabitat preferred for M. frenata was granitic boulders. The diet included a great variety of arthropods, although termites were the dominant items. The diet of M. frenata did not differ between sexes nor among seasons and was related to prey availability in the environment.