Centipede consumption boosts growth and gut health in endangered crocodile lizards
image: Juvenile lizards consume more centipedes than adults in the wild. Adding centipedes to the diet promoted the growth rate of juveniles and altered gut microbiota dramatically. Preserving food diversity is important for the conservation of crocodile lizards in the wild and in captive populations as well.
Credit: Hongxin Xie, Jing Yang, Guoshuai Tang, Yao Zeng, Shuyi Luo, Baojun Sun, Yonggang Nie, Zhenyu Du, and Wei-Guo Du.
Date: April 19, 2026
Beijing, China: A new study published in Biological Diversity reveals that dietary centipedes significantly promote growth and maintain gut microbiome homeostasis in juvenile Chinese crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus), offering key insights for the conservation of this endangered species.
Led by Prof. Wei-Guo Du from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the research team conducted diet surveys and controlled feeding experiments at Daguishan National Nature Reserve, China. Field data showed juvenile lizards consumed far more centipedes than adults, unlike captive populations mostly fed earthworms.
In one-month feeding trials, juveniles with centipedes added to their diet exhibited faster growth, greater body mass, and better body condition than those fed only earthworms, despite similar food intake. Gut microbiome analysis revealed the centipede group had lower bacterial diversity but higher levels of beneficial fermentative bacteria including Bacteroides, Paraclostridium, and Enterococcus. In contrast, the earthworm only group had more opportunistic pathogens. Fecal short-chain fatty acids, primarily acetate and butyrate, were significantly higher in the centipede-supplemented group, indicating enhanced microbial fermentation and energy utilization.
These results demonstrate centipedes provide more than basic nutrition—they shape a healthy gut microbiota that enhances growth efficiency. For conservation, the study underscores preserving natural prey diversity is critical for wild populations, while adding centipedes and other natural foods to captive diets can improve health and reduce disease risk.
Original Source
Xie, Hongxin, Jing Yang, Guoshuai Tang, Yao Zeng, Shuyi Luo, Baojun Sun, Yonggang Nie, Zhenyu Du, and Wei-Guo Du. 2024. “Consumption of centipedespromotes growth and gut microbiome homeostasis in a lizard.” Biological Diversity 1(1): 29–39.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bod2.12006
Keywords
chilopoda, diet, growth, microbiome, self-medication, Shinisaurus crocodilurus
About the Author
Hongxin Xie (First Author), PhD, graduated from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow, UK, with research interests focused on reptile evolution and conservation genetics.
Weiguo Du (Corresponding Author), Deputy Director, Professor, and PhD Supervisor of the Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on animal behavior, physiological and evolutionary ecology, with an emphasis on how reptiles respond to climate change and the conservation of endangered reptiles.
About the Journal
Biological Diversity (ISSN: 2994-4139) is a new open-access, high-impact, English-language journal, devoted to advancing biodiversity conservation, enhancing ecosystem services, and promoting the sustainable use of resources under global change. It features innovative research addressing the global biodiversity crisis.