Journal of Arid Environments (1991) 21: 91-97

(Received 13 February 1990, accepted 27 March 1990)

Food consumption in the lizard Agama stellio stellio was measured by calibrated production of faeces and urates. There was no difference between daily food consumption in spring and in summer. This non-seasonal pattern in A. stellio from a temperate arid habitat thus falls between the spring/summer pattern found in other lizards from warm temperature climates, and the wet/dry season pattern found in arid environments. Estimated consumption was close to that predicted for a 66 g lizard, and slightly higher than that of the tropical Agama agama. Occupation of a temperate climate has not reduced energy intake in A. stellio, but may have consequences for its time budget.