Annual Reproductive Activity of a Population of Cnemidophorus lemniscatus (Squamata: Teiidae)

• Published in: Journal of herpetology 2003-03, Vol.37 (1), p.35-42
• Main Authors: Mojica, Beatriz H, Rey, Beatriz H, Serrano, Víctor H, Ramírez-Pinilla, Martha P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clutch size; CONTENTS; Ecology; Eggs; Fat body; Female animals; Herpetology; Lizards; Male animals; Population size; Rain; Testes
• ISSN: 0022-1511; 1937-2418
• DOI: 10.1670/0022-1511(2003)037[0035:ARAOAP]2.0.CO;2

We studied the reproductive characteristics of a population of Cnemidophorus lemniscatus in a highly fragmented tropical dry forest with a bimodal rainfall regime. Females were smaller than males in snout–vent length (SVL) and head size. Males reached sexual maturity at 48 mm SVL and showed continuous spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis. The smallest vitellogenic female measured 51 mm SVL. We found vitellogenic and ovigerous females throughout the year and did not observe reproductive stage differences among months of the year. These data, plus the observation of neonates in every month of the year, confirm a pattern of continuous reproductive activity with multiple clutching. Clutch size varied from one to three eggs (mean of 2.17 ± 0.48) and was positively correlated with female SVL. Fat bodies were lacking in approximately 40% of the individuals. Mean fat-body mass did not vary among months for males or females; there were no differences in relative mass of stored fats between sexes. In spite of the marked seasonality of rainfall at this site, the population exhibited an aseasonal reproductive pattern that suggests a continuous availability of resources for reproduction.