Annual Reproductive Activity of Mabuya mabouya (Squamata, Scincidae)

Rreproductive features of a population of Mabuya mabouya were studied in a wet tropical habitat with a bimodal precipitation regime. The sex ratio was approximately 1:1, and females were larger than males. Males matured at a SVL of 72 mm and are continuously reproductive throughout their adult life....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of herpetology 2002-12, Vol.36 (4), p.667-677
Main Authors: Ramírez-Pinilla, Martha Patricia, Serrano, Víctor Hugo, Galeano, Julio Cesar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body size
CONTENTS
Embryos
Fat body
Female animals
Herpetology
Litter size
Lizards
Male animals
Physiology
Reproduction
Testes
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Summary:Rreproductive features of a population of Mabuya mabouya were studied in a wet tropical habitat with a bimodal precipitation regime. The sex ratio was approximately 1:1, and females were larger than males. Males matured at a SVL of 72 mm and are continuously reproductive throughout their adult life. Two groups of females were found reproducing simultaneously: primiparous females that reached a minimum size at their first reproduction and continued to grow during the gestation period and multiparous females of larger size that exhibited more limited growth. Primiparous females began preovulatory follicular growth and ovulated at juvenile sizes (60–74 mm SVL). Reproductive activity of the females appeared aseasonal. However, births occurred during the dry months, producing a bimodal pattern of neonate recruitment into the population. Gestation of four to seven embryos lasted approximately 10 months. Litter size was related to female SVL. The maximum follicular size corresponded to a microlecithal egg, and the percentage of growth of the embryo during development indicated a substantial matrotrophy. Accumulation of abdominal fat bodies in males or females was unrelated to season, and the relative quantity of fat accumulated was smaller in males. Stored fats decreased in the last phase of gestation, indicating a higher energetic cost during the final growth phase of the embryo. The reproductive traits of M. mabouya are comparable to those of other South American Mabuya, but this population possesses particular features related to the environmental conditions of its tropical habitat that suggest local adaptation.
ISSN:0022-1511
1937-2418
DOI:10.1670/0022-1511(2002)036[0667:ARAOMM]2.0.CO;2