ASPECTOS DE LA BIOLOGÍA POBLACIONAL EN EL CAMPO DE Anolis aquaticus, Sauria: Polychridae EN COSTA RICA

Abstract

The lizard Anolis aquaticus (Taylor 1956) was studied at the La Palma de Puriscal Canyon, Costa Rica (9º45’N, 84º27’O). A monthly sampling methodology for captures, recaptures and body measurements was developed during the study. The color of both sexes of A. aquaticus is brown, with pale green bands on the body and tail; when they emerge from the crevices they are dark brown without bands. Males are larger than females in the 13 body measurements taken. Males maintain a territory of one to three females; females do not tolerate other females within their territory. The sex ratio in the population does not vary from 1:1. Females reach sexual maturity between 4 and 6 months and males between 5 and 7 months after hatching. Following egg laying females less than 64mm SVL recovered weight readily, while those of less than 64mm SVL did not, some did not recover and died of starvation. Growth rates in SVL and weight are approximately equal for both sexes in adults and significantly different for the sexes in juveniles. There is a substantial difference in growth rates between captive animals and those in natural conditions. Recruitment rate was the same for both sexes. Findings are discussed in the paper. Key words: population biology, Anolis aquaticus, Sauria: Polychridae.