1963/03/30 by Wilbur W. Mayhew · 1 citation
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Amphibian and Reptile Biology #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Turtle Biology and Conservation
paper · doi:10.2307/1441282
Sceloporus orcutti was investigated from 1958 through 1961. On the basis of presence of motile sperm and large testis size, males were considered reproductively mature when they reached 90 mm snout-vent length. Adult lizards emerged from hibernation in January and February with relatively small testes. These organs reached maximum size in April, followed by a gradual decline during May, June, and July. Testes reached their smallest size in August and September. Males appeared to be potential breeders from mid-March to mid-August, when motile sperm were present in the vas deferens. Females were 85 mm (S.-V.) before they were believed sexually mature. Ova began to accumulate yolk in late April. Eggs were found in oviducts from late May to late July. Females averaged 11 eggs per clutch. The short period of time when females possessed eggs in the oviducts suggests that only one clutch of eggs is laid per year. An incubation experiment indicated a high relative humidity alone would not prevent excessive desiccation of eggs. The dates first hatchlings were seen varied from 30 July to 27 September. One of the major causes of variability in abundance of these lizards appeared to be reproductive success, which might be greatly influenced by seasonal rainfall.