As explained in my first question (https://www.researchgate.net/post/Diet_infer_from_faecal_pellets ) I'm uploading pictures in case someone recognizes any of the structures I can't identify.
Thank you
Hi,
A suggestion to improve your pictures, the next time put the structures in a petri dish and fill it with water up to totally cover the structure avoiding that some part project from water surface. Moreover, try to take several pictures of the same structure from different angles. Is there any possibility of taking pictures using a stereo microscope?.
Other suggestion that could make easier the identification , a preliminary prospection for most probably occurring preys in your sampling area could be very useful for later rests’ identification. Using pitfall traps, pooters and hand-nets will allow you characterize the invertebrate community available for your lizards.
Hi.
I agree with Alfonso: the better the photo is greater are your possibilities to identify the "former owner" of this structure.
Seeing it with a lot of imagination (a big amount of this!!!) I think it could be the copulatory aparatus of a male spider, which is located in the end of the palps. If I am right, it is possible to identify the species, but it is truly complicated.
Good luck!
Hi Ana
I am agree with Fernando. I think it could be the palps of a male arachid (pedipalps). The tarsus of the pedipalps have developed into a complicated structure (called palpal organ or bulb) that is used to transfer the sperm into the female seminal receptacles during mate. These structures appear when the male are sexually mature, and in the most of the species, the males became more active walking around and searching for females. The high mobility of males during this reproductive phase can increase the probabilties to be eaten by other predators. At least the strucutures that I see in the pics remind me this kind of structures.
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