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Natural history of Cnemidophorus costatus barrancorum in southeastern Sonora, Mexico

Cnemidophorus costatus barrancorum was studied in the short-tree forest of southeastern Sonora, Mexico from November 1985 to December 1988. Adult females varied in snout-vent length from 71 to 101 mm, while males reached a maximum of 121mm. Ontogenetic change in color-pattern was pronounced, however sexual dimorphism in color-pattern was slight. The mean number of dorsal scales around mid-body was 99.4. Mating occurred in late July. Females laid two clutches of eggs per season, with clutch size varying from 2-8 (X = 4.2). The maximum shelled egg dimensions were 10.5mm x 15.6mm. Hatchlings appeared in early fall, and were surface-active throughout November. Yearlings emerged from hibernation in February-March. Adults were active from mid-spring into September. C. c. barrancorum had a unimodal daily activity pattern, with activity beginning when air temperature exceeded 30°C. The mean body temperature of surface-active animals was 40.0°C.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/277012
Date January 1989
CreatorsSalmon, Julia Valerie, 1963-
ContributorsLowe, Charles H.
PublisherThe University of Arizona.
Source SetsUniversity of Arizona
Languageen_US
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext, Thesis-Reproduction (electronic)
RightsCopyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.

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