Reproductive biology of the southernmost Kentropyx lizard from the Wet Chaco of Corrientes, Argentina

• Autores: Ortíz, Martín Alejandro; Boretto, Jorgelina Mariela; Ibargüengoytía, Nora Ruth
• Año de publicación: 2016
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Fuente: Herpetological Journal, vol. 26, p. 119-130.
• Materia: Life History; Kentropyx Viridistriga; Reproductive Cycle; Squamata; Teiidae
• Institución: Universidad Nacional del Nordeste

Fil: Ortíz, Martín Alejandro. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exacta y Naturales y Agrimensura; Argentina.
Fil: Boretto, Jorgelina Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente; Argentina.
Fil: Ibargüengoytía, Nora Ruth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente; Argentina.
Studies on reproductive modes, size at maturity, clutch size and clutch frequency have contributed greatly to our understanding of life history variation among lizard populations, and thereby, to implement conservation strategies. Herein, we studied the reproductive biology of the vulnerable tegu lizard Kentropyx viridistriga from Corrientes, northeastern Argentina (Wet Chaco). Kentropyx viridistriga are active from early summer to late autumn, with temperature and photoperiod influencing the timing of reproduction and the brumation period. Females showed an annual reproductive cycle, and males exhibited a continuous reproductive cycle during the activity season. Females laid at least two clutches of on average three eggs per reproductive season. Neonates occured in spring, and reached sexual maturity in the first year of life. Females reached sexual maturity at a larger snout-vent length (64.1 mm) than males (54.8 mm). Sexual dimorphism is evident, with males showing greater head size and longer tails than females, while females exhibit larger interlimb length than males. This study reveals that the reproductive strategy of K. viridistriga is adjusted to the environmental conditions of the southernmost distribution for the genus.