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.

Effect of temperature on the locomotor performance of species in a lizard assemblage in the Puna region of Argentina.

Locomotion is relevant to the ecology of reptiles because of its presumed influence on an organism's Darwinian fitness. Moreover, in ectothermic species, physiological performance capacity is affected by body temperature. We analyzed two components of locomotor performance in three species of lizards, Phymaturus extrilidus, Liolaemus parvus, and Liolaemus ruibali, in the Puna environment of Argentina.