Reproductive activity of two sympatric lizard species, Ameivula ocellifera and Glaucomastix itabaianensis (Squamata: Teiidae), from Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Reproductive strategies may vary among lizard species, considering environmental as well as phylogenetic effects. Ameivula ocellifera and Glaucomastix itabaianensis are two sympatric lizard species belonging to the family Teiidae, and therefore we assume they exhibit similarities in their reproductive patterns. The objective of the present study was to describe the reproductive activity and evaluate the influence of environmental variables and the body fat cycle on the reproductive activity of these two lizard species. The research was carried out in Pirambu Restinga, Sergipe state, Northeastern Brazil, between 2017 and 2018. Glaucomastix itabaianensis and A. ocellifera displayed seasonal and continuous reproduction, respectively. In both sexes of G. itabaianensis, the lowest fat values coincided with the peak of reproductive activities. The fat body mass of A. ocellifera remained low throughout the year, coinciding with its continuous reproductive activity. Females of A. ocellifera with oviductal eggs were observed in both seasons. The egglaying of G. itabaianensis occurred in the transition period between the dry and rainy seasons, which may be associated with the presence of microclimatic conditions favourable to the embryonic development and survival of the offspring. Despite both belonging to the family Teiidae and being sympatric, the two species showed different reproductive patterns.

KEYWORDS:

• Reproductive cycle
• Restinga ecosystem
• spermatogenesis
• vitelogenesis

Acknowledgements

We thank the Fundação Projeto TAMAR and Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) for logistical support. The samples and euthanasia were authorised by the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (SISBio\ICMBio – license 53218-2) and the Comissão de Ética no Uso de Animais (34/2016) of the Universidade Federal da Bahia, respectively. We thank F. Gonzaga, D. Mesquita and S. Costa for their help in the field, and T. Silva and G. Carvalho for help in the field and in the laboratory. MAX thanks H. Araújo, A. Ferreira and F. Bravo for technical support. We thank the Laboratório de Fisiologia de Sementes (LAFISE) and Laboratório de Neurobiologia Comportamental e Evolutiva (LANCE) of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe for technical support.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB) provided a graduate fellowship to MAX (Process - BOL2531/2016). MAX thanks the Programa de Apoio à Pós-Graduação (PROAP) for financial assistance.