Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) predation on an Augrabies flat lizard (Platysaurus broadleyi)
Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
On 27 August 2018 at Augrabies Falls National Park (28.5942° S, 20.3381° E) we observed an adult Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) foraging adjacent to the main waterfall along a rock shelf midway down the cliff-side. At 15:37 h we saw the bird capturing and swallowing an Augrabies flat lizard (Platysaurus broadleyi; Fig. 1). This observation is noteworthy as to date the primary predators of Augrabies flat lizards are known to be raptors (e.g. Rock Kestrel, Falco rupicolus, and Booted Eagles, Aquila pennatus) and sand snakes (Psammophis sp.), with other potential predators being mongooses and large arthropods, such as spiders and centipedes (Whiting, 2002; A. Jenkins pers. comm.). Hamerkop, to the best of our knowledge, have not been documented previously to consume reptiles, and as such there have been no previous observations of them eating this specific lizard species. The known diet of Hamerkop consists of frogs, particularly of the genus Xenopus, insects, and fish (Skead, 1953; Liversidge, 1963; Dean & MacDonald, 1981;
Kahl, 1987; Yohannes, et al., 2014).
Description
CITATION: Baxter-Gilbert, J. et al. 2019. Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) predation on an
Augrabies flat lizard (Platysaurus broadleyi). The Herpetological Bulletin, 148: 37-38. doi:10.33256/hb148.3738
The original publication is available at https://www.thebhs.org/publications/the-herpetological-bulletin
The original publication is available at https://www.thebhs.org/publications/the-herpetological-bulletin
Keywords
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) -- Augrabies Falls National Park, Augrabies flat lizard (Platysaurus broadleyi) -- Augrabies Falls National Park, Lizards -- Predators of -- Ecology, Platysaurus broadleyi -- Classification, Augrabies Falls National Park -- Management
Citation
Baxter-Gilbert, J. et al. 2019. Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) predation on an Augrabies flat lizard (Platysaurus broadleyi). The Herpetological Bulletin, 148: 37-38. doi:10.33256/hb148.3738