Reproductive strategies of a lizard community from an arid environment of Mexico.

The goal of this study is to describe patterns of reproductive activity and associated characteristics in a lizard community from an arid environment in the southern Chihuahuan Desert region of Mexico. Results of this study showed variation in snout–vent length (SVL) in adults female and male among 18 species. A similar pattern occurred in body mass of males and females, which varied mainly among species and not substantially between sexes. Mean clutch/litter size and egg/embryo mass and volume varied among species, and egg/embryo mass and volume were positively correlated with female SVL. Oviparous species were larger in SVL than viviparous species; however, SVL in females, clutch/litter size and egg/embryo volume were similar between oviparous and viviparous species, but the oviductal mass of oviparous species was larger than in viviparous species. Clutch/litter size and oviductal mass were correlated with female SVL in both oviparous and viviparous species. This relationship was similar for egg/embryo volume in oviparous species, but not in viviparous species. Seven species showed a prolonged reproductive period, and five had short reproductive periods. The results of this study provide evidence of high diversity in reproductive strategies that have evolved among organisms that live in this environment. • Lizard communities exhibit different forms of reproduction. • Arid environments have extreme conditions for various species of lizards. • We describe the reproductive strategies in a community of lizards. • Various reproductive strategies are recorded. • Environment and phylogeny determine these variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]