ANNUAL VARIATION IN THE REPRODUCTION OF THE LIZARD LIOLAEMUS DARWINII (LIOLAEMIDAE), FROM SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

GRACIELA BLANCO; JUAN CARLOS ACOSTA; MARTORI RICARDO; GABRIEL CASTILLO; RODRIGO NIEVA; ANA VICTORICA; LIA PIAGGIO

Mendoza

Congreso; CUYO BIOLOGY SOCIETY; 2010

The aim of this study was to compare during two consecutive yearsthe gonadal and bodies fat cycles in a population of the lizardLiolaemus darwinii from the desert Monte of San Juan. Individualswere measured and sexed; yolked follicles or eggs in oviductand testicles were removed and measured to estimate their volume.The fat bodies were weighed. L. darwinii reproductive activity beganearly, before the spring (southern hemisphere). In the 1st yearbody size was correlated with litter size, whereas in the 2nd yearthere was no linear relationship between litter size and snout ventlong (SVL). Litter size ranged between 2 and 8 and between 1 and6 eggs during the 1st and the 2nd year, respectively. The minimumsize of breeding females was 44 mm SVL in the 1st year and 43mm SVL in the 2nd. The mode of the egg laying was 4 eggs in bothyears. Follicular activity of females was extended because of theirdual posture in both cases. Egg laying started in October (1st year)or in November (2nd year), extending until February in bothyears. The birth period was from December to March during the1st year and from November to February in the 2nd year. Testicularcycles varied significantly between months and were synchronouswith females in both periods.