Age Of Lizard Research Articles

AGE STRUCTURE, GROWTH AND REPRODUCTION OF THE TWO-STREAKED SNAKE-EYED SKINK (<i>ABLEPHARUS BIVITTATUS</i>, REPTILIA, SCINCIDAE) IN THE TALYSH MOUNTAINS (ARDABIL PROVINCE, IRAN)

The age, growth, and fertility of two populations of Ablepharus bivittatus in the Talysh Mountains are presented. Altogether, 59 individuals were studied from two localities in the Ardabil Province, Iran, one being the village of Khanegah-e-Oliya in Nemin shahrestan and the other the village of Majara in Khalkhal shahrestan. The age of the lizards was determined using skeletochronology. The average age of females was 3.6 ± 1.15 years (maximum 6 years), in males 2.6 ± 1.24 (maximum 5 years). On the sections of tubular bones of many individuals, lines of growth retardation are noted, corresponding to hibernation and aestivation. Lizards grow intensely during the first 3 years of life, but then their growth slows down. Animals in the age groups of 3 years and older do not differ in body length. The age of pregnant lizards is 2–5 years, on average 3.7 ± 0.91 years. The fertility of females does not depend on age.

Assessing the Role of Lizards as Potential Pollinators of an Insular Plant Community and Its Intraspecific Variation.

The role of lizards as potential pollinators on islands has been documented for either one or a few plants in different parts of the world, but it has never been assessed for an entire plant community. Here, we quantified interaction rate by lizards and evaluated intraspecific differences in the use of flowers on Cabrera Gran (Cabrera archipelago, Balearic Islands) by means of visual observations, automated cameras and the analysis of pollen grain samples. Overall, we recorded interactions of the Balearic wall lizard (Podarcis lilfordi) with flowers of 44 plant species, 72.7% of which were unknown to date. Although florivory occurs in some of these species (35%), the majority of visits were legitimate (65%); in addition, we found intraspecific differences in the interactions related to the sex and age of lizards. Our findings support the role of Balearic wall lizards as potential pollinators across the entire plant community, and their contribution to particular plant species, for instance the endangered Cistus heterophyllus carthaginensis. This study also documents the first record of another sympatric lizard (Tarentola mauritanica) visiting flowers and contributes to the few existing records of flower interactions involving geckos in the Paleartic ecozone.

Sexual size dimorphism and microhabitat use of the orange-tail skink (Gongylomorphus spp.) on Flat Island, Mauritius: conservation implications

AbstractThe Gongylomorphus skinks are an endemic genus of Mauritius and comprise two described species. Following the recent discovery of a third putative species, endemic to Flat Island, 11 km off the coast of Mauritius, this study was conducted to examine morphometrics and the pattern of microhabitat use by the species in an effort to provide effective conservation recommendations. There was a clear sexual size dimorphism with males significantly larger than females in terms of; snout-vent length, head length, head width, snout-mouth length, snout-ear length, upper and lower fore- and hind-limb lengths and fourth toe length. There was no sexual dimorphism in other measures including pelvic width, width at the base of the tail, head depth or body weight. Microhabitat use was found to be non-random with lizards occurring in areas with high humidity, high numbers of natural refugia, increased leaf litter coverage and plant species diversity, and low grass cover. We found no evidence that microhabitat use varied in relation to sex or age of lizards. The implications of these results for the conservation management of Flat Island for the orange-tail skink are discussed.

Helminth parasites of the African lizard Agama agama (Squamata: Agamidae), in Lagos, Nigeria

Agama agama, the agamid rainbow lizard, has been reported to serve as transport and reservoir host to several protozoan and helminth parasites. We randomly sampled 310 specimens between May and July, 2005, at Oyingbo, Lagos, Nigeria (6 degrees 34'60" N-3 degrees 19'59" E and 6 degrees 34'60" N-3 degrees 19'59" E).They harboured four species of nematodes: Strongyluris brevicaudata, Parapharyngodon awokoyai, Capillaria sp. and Oxyuris sp.; one of Cestoda, Oochoristica agamae; one of Trematoda, Mesocoelium monas; and one of Pentastomida, Raillietiella sp. Strongyluris brevicaudata had the highest prevalence of infection (82.3%), followed by P. awokoyai (74.5%), Raillietiella (10.3%), Capillaria sp. (8.4%) and O. agamae (7.4%). M. monas and Oxyuris sp. had low prevalences: 1.61% each. Raillietiella sp. and Capillaria sp. can cause localized inflammation and intestinal infections in humans. The prevalence of infection was higher in larger adult lizards. Prevalence in males was 97.6% (94.1% in females). In four of the helminth species, intensity of infection was higher in male lizards. Parasite intensity was highest in the rectum, followed by the intestine (p<0.05). Infection intensity was, to a large extent, dependent on the type of parasite, and age of lizard. During May, P. awokoyai had its highest mean intensities and prevalence. The prevalence and mean intensity of helminthes varied with the month of collection (both p<0.05). For the three months studied, prevalence and mean intensity of S. brevicaudata were highest in June (July for the other species).