Dimorfismo sexual en Liolaemus multicolor y L. irregularis (Iguania: Liolaemidae)

VALDECANTOS, M. S. & F. LOBO

Revista Española de Herpetología

Asociación Herpetologica Española

Lugar: Salamanca; Año: 2007 vol. 21 p. 55 - 69

0213-6686

A study of sexual dimorphism of Liolaemus multicolor and L. irregularis was conducted in two populations from the puna region of Argentina. We analyzed morphometric characters, squamation, and variation of pattern and color in life. We studied the body size at which these characters differentiate. Dimorphic characters in L. multicolor include: head proportions, hindlimb length, width of the cloaca and tail base, trunk length, precloacal pores, yellow coloration on the ventral surface of the thighs, and significant differences between sexes in the frequencies of three dorsal-pattern types and ornamental colors. In L. irregularis we found dimorphism in shape and size of cloacal scales, number of precloacal pores, and throat coloration and pattern. In L. multicolor one sexually dimorphic character was exhibited in juveniles, but most of the others appeared at the time of sexual maturity, and only a few developed later. In L. irregularis, two characters were differentiated in juveniles and the others appeared after sexual maturity. The differences in the development and presence of ornamental coloration (well developed in L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.Liolaemus multicolor and L. irregularis was conducted in two populations from the puna region of Argentina. We analyzed morphometric characters, squamation, and variation of pattern and color in life. We studied the body size at which these characters differentiate. Dimorphic characters in L. multicolor include: head proportions, hindlimb length, width of the cloaca and tail base, trunk length, precloacal pores, yellow coloration on the ventral surface of the thighs, and significant differences between sexes in the frequencies of three dorsal-pattern types and ornamental colors. In L. irregularis we found dimorphism in shape and size of cloacal scales, number of precloacal pores, and throat coloration and pattern. In L. multicolor one sexually dimorphic character was exhibited in juveniles, but most of the others appeared at the time of sexual maturity, and only a few developed later. In L. irregularis, two characters were differentiated in juveniles and the others appeared after sexual maturity. The differences in the development and presence of ornamental coloration (well developed in L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.L. multicolor include: head proportions, hindlimb length, width of the cloaca and tail base, trunk length, precloacal pores, yellow coloration on the ventral surface of the thighs, and significant differences between sexes in the frequencies of three dorsal-pattern types and ornamental colors. In L. irregularis we found dimorphism in shape and size of cloacal scales, number of precloacal pores, and throat coloration and pattern. In L. multicolor one sexually dimorphic character was exhibited in juveniles, but most of the others appeared at the time of sexual maturity, and only a few developed later. In L. irregularis, two characters were differentiated in juveniles and the others appeared after sexual maturity. The differences in the development and presence of ornamental coloration (well developed in L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.L. irregularis we found dimorphism in shape and size of cloacal scales, number of precloacal pores, and throat coloration and pattern. In L. multicolor one sexually dimorphic character was exhibited in juveniles, but most of the others appeared at the time of sexual maturity, and only a few developed later. In L. irregularis, two characters were differentiated in juveniles and the others appeared after sexual maturity. The differences in the development and presence of ornamental coloration (well developed in L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.L. multicolor one sexually dimorphic character was exhibited in juveniles, but most of the others appeared at the time of sexual maturity, and only a few developed later. In L. irregularis, two characters were differentiated in juveniles and the others appeared after sexual maturity. The differences in the development and presence of ornamental coloration (well developed in L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.L. irregularis, two characters were differentiated in juveniles and the others appeared after sexual maturity. The differences in the development and presence of ornamental coloration (well developed in L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.L. multicolor), throat patterns, cloacal shape, and scales in L. irregularis, and the different development of precloacal pores in both species, suggest that the courtship and social behavior (unknown in the field or laboratory) associated with these characters are probably very different.