Editorial Type:
Article Category: Research Article
 | 
Online Publication Date: May 01, 2000

Small Clutch Size in a Mediterranean Endemic Lacertid (Podarcis milensis)

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Page Range: 610 – 614
DOI: 10.1643/0045-8511(2000)000[0610:SCSIAM]2.0.CO;2
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Abstract

The reproductive strategy of Podarcis milensis exhibits some peculiarities when compared with other congeners. Males and females attain sexual maturity at a minimum body size of 47 and 42 mm SVL, respectively, both at an age of about one year. Podarcis milensis has a very small clutch size, with a mean of 1.73 and a range of 1–3 eggs, and produces multiple clutches annually. Both sexes exhibit a prolonged reproductive period extending from January to August.

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Copyright: The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists
Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Annual variation of testis volume: SVL ratio in adult males of Podarcis milensis. Sample size is indicated above each month


Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

Seasonal variation in the percentage of sexually mature females in Podarcis milensis (n = 218). Females with (A) oviductal eggs, (B) oviductal and large vitellogenic follicles (> 3 mm), (C) large vitellogenic follicles (> 3 mm), (D) without reproductive activity


Accepted: Aug 08, 1999