Gastric suction as an alternative method in studies of lizard diets: tests in two species of Enyalius (Squamata)

In this study an alternative method for collecting stomach contents in small lizards was developed seeking to maintain the specimens alive. The gastric suction method was performed on adult lizards Enyalius bilineatus and E. perditus. These animals were collected in the Atlantic Forest of Southeastern Brazil. To evaluate the survival rate of the lizards subjected to gastric suction and the efficiency of the method, differentiated treatments were statistically performed. The results were consistent enough for the gastric suction to be considered efficient and much less invasive than other traditional methods that have killed numerous animals in diet studies.