Thermal niches and activity periods in syntopic Phymaturus and Liolaemus lizards from the Andes, Argentina.

Explanations for differences in thermal biology within and between species of lizards employ concepts of phylogenetic inertia and plasticity. We compared the thermal biology of three liolaemid species in the Andean highlands in Argentina: two allopatric congeners (Phymaturus williamsi and P. aguanegra) each in syntopy with Liolaemus parvus.

High reproductive effort in a vulnerable lizard from high altitudes in Argentina: Reproductive biology and sexual dimorphism in Phymaturus extrilidus.

Reproductive biology is fundamental to understanding the ecology and evolution of lizards which, in turn, is essential for the definition of the species´ conservation status. We studied life-history traits related to the reproduction of the Phymaturus extrilidus lizard, including the male and female reproductive cycles, litter size, mean annual reproductive output, reproductive effort, sexual maturity size and sexual dimorphism, body condition, and fat body cycles. We found sexual dimorphism in size and shape, supporting the hypotheses of sexual and fecundity selection.

Could plasticity mediate highlands lizards' resilience to climate change? A case study of the leopard iguana (Diplolaemus leopardinus) in Central Andes of Argentina.

The predicted rise of global temperatures is of major concern for ectotherms because of its direct impact on their behavior and physiology. As physiological performance mediates a species' resilience to warming exposure, physiological plasticity could greatly reduce the susceptibility to climate change. We studied the degree to which Diplolaemus leopardinus lizards are able to adjust behavioral and physiological traits in response to short periods of temperature change.

Looking at the past to infer into the future: Thermal traits track environmental change in Liolaemidae.

The diversity of habitats generated by the Andes uplift resulted a mosaic of heterogeneous environments in South America for species to evolve a variety of ecological and physiological specializations. Species in the lizard family Liolaemidae occupy a myriad of habitats in the Andes. Here, we analyze the tempo and mode of evolution in the thermal biology of liolaemids.

Impact of temperature on bite force and bite endurance in the leopard iguana () in the Andes Mountains.

In ectotherms, temperature exerts a strong influence on the performance of physiological and ecological traits. One approach to understanding the impact of rising temperatures on animals and their ability to cope with climate change is to quantify variation in thermal-sensitive traits. Here, we examined the thermal biology, temperature dependence and thermal plasticity of bite force (endurance and magnitude) in , an aggressive and territorial lizard endemic to Mendoza province, Argentina.

An updated phylogeny and morphological study of the Phymaturus vociferator clade (Iguania: Liolaemidae).

Species delimitation in Phymaturus has been a difficult task due to the highly conserved morphological and ecological features present in this genus. Almost all species of Phymaturus have been described without DNA data or lacking statistical analyses which makes even more difficult to compare species. Although two molecular phylogenetic studies have been recently published, here we provide the first multilocus phylogenetic reconstruction including all Chilean species, with samples from all type localities and some previously unsampled populations.

Gut microbial ecology of lizards: insights into diversity in the wild, effects of captivity, variation across gut regions and transmission.

Animals maintain complex associations with a diverse microbiota living in their guts. Our understanding of the ecology of these associations is extremely limited in reptiles. Here, we report an in-depth study into the microbial ecology of gut communities in three syntopic and viviparous lizard species (two omnivores: Liolaemus parvus and Liolaemus ruibali and an herbivore: Phymaturus williamsi).

Physiological and microbial adjustments to diet quality permit facultative herbivory in an omnivorous lizard.

While herbivory is a common feeding strategy in a number of vertebrate classes, less than 4% of squamate reptiles feed primarily on plant material. It has been hypothesized that physiological or microbial limitations may constrain the evolution of herbivory in lizards. Herbivorous lizards exhibit adaptations in digestive morphology and function that allow them to better assimilate plant material.

The rediscovery of Oplurus bibronii Guichenot, 1848 a valid species of the liolaemid genus Phymaturus (Iguania: Liolaemidae).

Oplurus bibronii was a species described more than 160 years ago from the highlands of Ovalle, Chile. The species was earlier synonymized with Phymaturus palluma and since then its taxonomic status has not been re-examined. In February of 2011, we were successful in capturing specimens of Phymaturus in the highlands of Ovalle and additionally we examined high quality digital pictures of the type series of O.

Description of new andean species of the genus Phymaturus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) from Northwestern Argentina.

As a result of several field trips and studies of collections of Phymaturus samples from Andean areas of central western Argentina (San Juan province), we discovered two populations that exhibit a particular character combination not seen in other species formally recognized in the literature. Based on a detailed analysis of an extended list of morphological characters (93), including scalation, color pattern, gular and nuchal folds, precloacal pores, and morphometric data, we conclude that these populations represent independent lineages that deserve to be considered as new species. According to the most recent revision of the genus and considering the descriptions made in another recent contribution, the taxonomic composition of the genus was increased to 38 species.