Reproductive Traits of a High Elevation Viviparous Lizard Sceloporus bicanthalis (Lacertilia: Phrynosomatidae) from Mexico

How do viviparous and oviparous lizards reproduce in Patagonia? A comparative study of three species of Liolaemus

“…bibronii, L. boulengeri, and L. lineomaculatus showed higher values of RCM (32e35% , Table 1) than other liolaemids such as the tropical and oviparous L. lutzae from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (RCM ¼ 20%; Rocha, 1989), or other families like Agamidae, Iguanidae, and Lacertidae (about 25%;Vitt and Price, 1982) indicating a high reproductive effort as has also been observed in Sceloporus from high-altitudes (Rodriguez-Romero et al, 2004). In addition, L. bibronii, L. boulengeri, and L. lineomaculatus did not show differences in offspring or hatchling size, and RCM (Table 1) among them even when they have different maternal body size, different abdominal volume to hold the clutch (with L. boulengeri being the largest), and different reproductive modes, supporting the hypothesis that there is a minimum offspring viable size to allow sufficient growth during the first summer to survive the dormancy period.…”

Phylogeography of the Trans-Volcanic bunchgrass lizard (Sceloporus bicanthalis) across the highlands of south-eastern Mexico

“…Sceloporus goldmani is considered to be extinct because recent field surveys have failed to detect this species at multiple historical collecting localities (Sinervo et al ., ; Bryson et al ., ). Sceloporus bicanthalis , on the other hand, is widely distributed across high elevations in south‐eastern Mexico and has become a model for studies of viviparity and placentation (Guillette, ; Méndez de la Cruz, Villagrán‐Santa Cruz & Andrews, ; Andrews et al ., ; Andrews, ; Rodríguez‐Romero et al ., ). The evolution of viviparity in S. bicanthalis could be an outcome of their geographical distribution at high‐elevation regions; according to the cold‐climate model (Mell, ; Tinkle & Gibbons, ; Shine, ; Andrews, ), constraints on the thermal biology of embryos can drive the evolution of viviparity because egg retention and viviparity can compensate for the negative effects of low temperatures on embryonic developmental rates that lizards experience at high elevation.…”

Reproductive cycles and reproductive strategies among populations of the Rose‐bellied Lizard Sceloporus variabilis (Squamata: Phrynosomatidae) from central Mexico

“…Seasonal reproductive cycle is typical in lizard species from high latitude temperate environments (Gadsden and Estrada‐Rodríguez ) and high elevations (Guillette , ; Rodríguez‐Romero et al. ) in which both oviparous and viviparous species occur (Guillette ). Some viviparous lizard species from high elevations reproduce in the fall, and males and females have asynchronous reproductive cycles (Guillette ; see Guillette et al.…”

“…Reproductive strategies, such as extension of reproductive cycles between males and females are linked according to their evolved reproductive mode, continuous or seasonal (Lozano 2013). Seasonal reproductive cycle is typical in lizard species from high latitude temperate environments (Gadsden and Estrada-Rodr ıguez 2008) and high elevations (Guillette 1981(Guillette , 1982Rodr ıguez-Romero et al 2004) in which both oviparous and viviparous species occur (Guillette 1981). Some viviparous lizard species from high elevations reproduce in the fall, and males and females have asynchronous reproductive cycles (Guillette 1981; see Guillette et al 1980).…”