The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.
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pp. 119-130
Authors: Martín A. Ortiz, Jorgelina M. Boretto & Nora R. Ibargüengoytía
Abstract: 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.
Key words: life history, Kentropyx viridistriga, reproductive cycle, Squamata, Teiidae