BIENNIAL REPRODUCTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE LIZARD HOMONOTA UNDERWOODI (IGUANIA: PHYLLODACTILIDAE) FROM SAN JUAN, ARGENTINA

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

Mendoza

Congreso; CUYO BIOLOGY SOCIETY; 2010

In this study we compared during two consecutive years gonadaland fat body cycles in a population of Homonota underwoodi fromthe Monte desert of San Juan. We described the following reproductiveevents: ovulation, oviposition, births, fat bodies and testicularcycles. Also, we identified life history parameters such assize minimum reproductive age, clutch size and clutch frequency.Individuals were measured and sexed; yolked follicles or eggs inoviduct and testicles were removed and measured to estimate theirvolume. Fat bodies were weighed. The reproductive activity of H.underwoodi began in September (southern hemisphere) and in generalwas similar for both years: ovulation occurred in September,fertilization concluded in January and female reproductive effortwas concentrated between September and January. Testicular developmentwas synchronous with seasonality. Testicular volumewas related to snout vent long (SVL) in both periods. Male reproductivecycles were synchronous with females with minimal fatbody reserve for both sexes during oviposition period.