The Herpetological Journal

pp. 243-248
Authors: Robles, Cecilia I. & Halloy, Monique

Abstract: Investigating space use in animals and determining the amount of overlap with neighbours may help to understand whether territoriality is part of a social system, and can help in inferring possible reproductive strategies of males and females. Here we examine these issues in the lizard Liolaemus quilmes from northwestern Argentina based on space use of core areas. We studied a population comprising 119 #large# (LA) and 52 #small# (SA) adults over two consecutive years. We compared core areas of males and females during the reproductive and post-reproductive season, documenting the occurrence and amount of overlap among core areas. We found that the average size of core areas of both LA and SA individuals did not significantly differ from each other across two study years. However, LA male core areas were significantly larger than those of LA females, and LA male core areas were significantly larger than those of SA males. LA and SA male core areas were significantly larger during the reproductive than during the post-reproductive season, possibly indicating the need of males to gain access to females. SA females had significantly smaller core areas during the reproductive season than during the post-reproductive season, whereas LA female core areas were not different between seasons. The amount of core area overlap among males did not exceed 23%, supporting the idea of territory defence. Female core areas did not overlap. The core areas of LA males and females overlapped with up to two females and three males, respectively, suggesting a polygynandrous mating system.

Keywords: LIOLAEMIDAE, REPRODUCTION, SAPTIAL DISTRIBUTION, SAURIA, CORE AREAS, IGUANIA