The Herpetological Journal

pp.137-143

Authors: Nora R. Ibargüengoytía And Victor E. Cussac

Abstract: Viviparity has been reached independently by different genera of reptiles. Synchronization of the reproductive style with the environment facilitates offspring birth  and survival. Several authors postulate a close relationship between reproductive mode and environmentaI conditions in these species. Liolaemus pictus is a viviparous medium-sized lizard that lives to temperate habitats up to moderate altitudes in the Andean-Patagonian forest. Sexual dimorphism, follicle number and size in relation to body size, date and locality, reproductive cycle and litter size were studied. In the light of our results we reject an annual reproductive cycle for female Liolaemus pictus in favour of a multiannual one. As a different reproductive style among viviparus lizards, biennial (or triennial) reproduction enlarges the known diversity of reptilian reproductive responses to short and cold activity seasons, such as those typical of the highlands of southern South America.