Can size make a difference? Cross-predation occurrences between lizards and scorpions in the Brazilian seasonal dry tropical forest

Abstract

. Cross-predation is an important event that may influence prey–predator dynamics, especially in arid and semiarid ecosystems. In this study, we report four predation events involving lizards and scorpions from different sites in the Brazilian seasonal dry tropical forest. In three of these events, the lizard acted as the predator, while in one event, the scorpion was the predator. Body size played a determining role when lizards were the predator of the scorpion, with larger vertebrates feeding on the arachnids. In contrast, when the sizes were similar, the scorpion acted as the predator of the lizard. Our findings suggest a complex relationship between lizards and scorpions in the Brazilian seasonal dry tropical forest.