The Brief Life of the Lizard Kentropyx viridistriga (Teiidae) from Wet Chaco: A Study Based on Skeletochronology

ORTIZ, MARTÍN; BENTANCOURT, JUDITH VICTORIA; SANDOVAL, MARÍA TERESA; IBARGÜENGOYTÍA, NORA R.

HERPETOLOGICAL JOURNAL

BRITISH HERPETOL SOC

Lugar: Montrose, Angus, UK; Año: 2025

0268-0130

The organisms’ age is a kay data toanswer questions on evolution and ecology that provides reliableinformation for the conservation of species. Herein, we studied the individual’s age, ageat first reproduction, and maximum life span of theKentropyx viridistriga lizard, inhabiting the subtropicalregion of Wet Chaco of Corrientes province, Argentina. We also estimated life-historyparameters like individual and lifetime reproductive effort, relativereproductive time, and fecundity rate. This species exhibited a lamellarpattern of bone growth, typical of reptiles. Adult females exhibited thinnercortical bone than adult males. Males and females sexually mature during theirsecond activity season and reach a maximum life span of 2 and 3 years,respectively, suggesting an interplay between age at sexual maturity andmaximum life span. Kentropyx viridistriga has a short lifespan, small clutch size, and short relative reproductive time, suggesting that its capacity to recover demographically fromhabitat perturbations is limited, and populations could become highlyvulnerable to climatic and anthropogenic disturbances.