The Herpetological Journal
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
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pdf 05. Reproductive biology of the secretive Mediterranean colubrid Macroprotodon cucullatus in the southern Iberian peninsula
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pp.195-200
Authors: Juan M. Pleguezuelos And Mónica Feriche
Abstract: We examined 150 museum specimens of Macroprotodon cucullatus from the southern portion of the Iberian Peninsula to determine size at sexual maturity, reproductive and fat body cycles, clutch size and hatching period. Males mature at a smaller absolute and relative size than females and, as in Moroccan populations, show a postnuptial spermatogenic cycle. The mating period occurs earlier than that of any other Mediterranean snake species. Females reproduce every two years and there is no correlation between body size and clutch size. The tendency for M. cucullatus to have a biennial reproductive frequency and a fixed clutch size is discussed in relation to some features of the ecology of this species, including its burrowing habit, its likely low range of preferred temperatures in relation to epigeous species, and its low feeding frequency.
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