Notes on Reproduction in a Xeric-Adapted Anole, Anolis whitemani (Sauria: Polychridae), from Hispaniola

Abstract

Anolis whitemani is a cybotoid anole endemic to Hispaniola (Powell and Carr, 1990, reviewed the literature). The species is the most xeric-adapted of Hispaniolan anoles and is limited to open, hot, arid situations (Schwartz, 1980). Few ecological or life history data have been reported. Williams (1963, 1983) and Schwartz (1980) made general references to habitat and habits, and Carr et al. (1989) presented data on food habits. Here we present information on reproduction. Reproductive activities in anoline lizards have been treated by a variety of workers (Licht and Gorman, 1970; Sexton et al., 1971; Ruibal et al., 1972; Andrews and Rand, 1974; Fitch, 1982). Anoles typically exhibit a prolonged or continuous breeding cycle, made possible by the tropical or sub-tropical distribution of all but one species. Females lay a single egg, produced alternately by the two ovaries. This essentially continuous production of clutches and the clutch size of one are unique among iguanian lizards (sensu Frost and Etheridge, 1989). A total of 178 specimens was examined (see Appendix 1). Animals were collected from 21 different sites and in seven different months, representing both wet and dry seasons. All lizards were fixed in formalin prior to being transferred to either ethyl or isopropyl alcohol. In females, all shelled and non-shelled oviductal eggs, and yolked and non-yolked ovarian follicles, were counted and the longest diameter was measured to the nearest 0.5 mm. The longest diameter of the left testis in all males was measured as above