Abstract

BUSTOS-ZAGAL, María Guadalupe; MENDEZ-DE LA CRUZ, Fausto R.; CASTRO-FRANCO, Rubén  and  VILLAGRAN-SANTA CRUZ, Maricela. Reproductive cycle of Sceloporus ochoterenae from Morelos State, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2011, vol.82, n.2, pp.589-597. ISSN 2007-8706.

We studied the reproductive cycle of Sceloporus ochoterenae from the population that occurs in a relict tropical deciduous forest in central Morelos. Males are significantly larger in snout vent-length (SVL) 49.53 ± 2.40 mm, and heavier (x= 3.66 ± 0.68 g) than females (SVL 46.37 ± 2.08 mm, weight 3.34 ± 1.23 g), which indicate that this species, like many other sceloporines is sexually dimorphic. There are differences in reproductive cycles between sexes; males begin reproductive activity in March with maximum activity in May, whereas females start reproduction at the beginning of the rainy season (May), with highest period during the rainy season (July). Precipitation and temperature are correlated positively with the reproductive cycles of males and females. The average clutch was 5 eggs and was positively related to female size. In contrast, size and weight of females had no significant effect on relative clutch mass (mean = 0.245). In general, the reproductive characteristics of this Morelos' population are different from those observed in Guerrero.

Keywords : sexual dimorphism; reproduction; reproductive characteristics; Sceloporus ochoterenae; Morelos.