Guilty or innocent? Could the exotic lizard Hemidactylus mabouia (Squamata, Gekkonidae) be responsible for the displacement of the native species Notomabuya frenata (Squamata, Mabuyidae) in anthropic environments?

Abstract

Hemidactylus mabouia is a gecko species that has successfully colonized southern North, Central, and South America. In Paraguay, there is a commonly held belief that this species has displaced the native skink Notomabuya frenata in urban areas. In this study, we compared several ecological features of N. frenata and H. mabouia to better understand the degree of their niche overlap. A comparative analysis was conducted based on a literature survey and the examination of museum specimens from Asunción (Paraguay). Furthermore, differences in microhabitat use between H. mabouia and N. frenata were investigated through a review of observational records available on iNaturalist. Our findings indicate that the two species share only a few biological traits, such as an insectivore diet, an ability to adapt to living close to human dwellings, and the use of mimesis as a primary defensive strategy. Both lizards are generalist feeders, although there are notable differences in their frequency of prey consumption. Regarding habitat use, the majority of N. frenata specimens were documented on grass or other natural substrates, as well as on trees and shrubs. In the case of H. mabouia, the majority of records originate from smooth and brick walls, including metal and glass surfaces. Consequently, there is no evidence to suggest that dietary overlap could induce competition between these species. Therefore, it can be posited that the displacement of the native lizard N. frenata is a consequence of human activities that have altered its preferred microhabitat while expanding potential habitat for H. mabouia.