Abstract

GADSDEN, Héctor; RODRIGUEZ-ROMERO, Felipe de Jesús; MENDEZ-DE LA CRUZ, Fausto R.  and  GIL-MARTINEZ, Rosalina. Ciclo reproductor de Sceloporus poinsettii Baird y Girard 1852 (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) en el centro del desierto chihuahuense, México. Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.3, pp.93-107. ISSN 2448-8445.

The reproductive cycle of a population of the viviparous lizard Sceloporus poinsettii Baird y Girard 1852 was determined using data obtained from field caught individuals at the Biosphere Reserve of Mapimí, Durango, México. Between 1993 and 1994 monthly samples of this species were collected from rocky hills. Females begin vitellogenesis in late summer, culminating in ovulation during December. Females are pregnant throughout the winter months with birth during spring in May or early June. Average clutch size is 6.3 young. Neonatos of both sexes are born early in summer. Males exhibit testicular recrudescence during late summer and maximal Testicular/Somatic Index occur during fall in October and November. This study adds to the data that indicate that fall reproductive activity is the common reproductive strategy among viviparous lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

Keywords : Chihuahuan Desert; viviparity; Sceloporus.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )