Aspectos morfológicos y térmicos del nido de Aspidoscelis costata en Guerrero, México

Abstract

For the first time, the morphological and thermal traits of the nests of the Aspidoscelis costata lizard are described in this study. All nests (n=23) were found under rocks, which were exposed directly to the sunlight. The rocks measured (Mean±1SE) 65.8±3.6cm in length, 43.7±2cm in width, and 28.7±3.2cm in height. The general shape of the nest was elliptical and measured 6.1±0.5cm in length, 4.4±0.4cm in width, and 2.4±2.4cm in height, while the depth of the chamber was 5.98±0.6cm. There was 1.7±0.3 nests per rock, 6.3±0.5 eggs per nest, and the eggs measured 1.5±0.02cm in length, 1.1±0.04cm in width, and weighed 0.92±0.08g. The mean temperature inside the nest was 28.4±0.2°C and ranged from 21.1°C to 38.5°C. Nesting occurred during the rainy season (June to September), which dampen the ambient temperature for the embryonic development of the Aspidoscelis costata lizard.