Aspectos morfológicos y térmicos del nido de Aspidoscelis costata en Guerrero, México

Abstract

For the first time, the morphological and thermal traits of the nests of the Aspidoscelis costata lizard are described in this study. All nests (n= 23) were found under rocks, which were exposed directly to the sunlight. The rocks measured (Mean±1SE) 65.8±3.6 cm in length, 43.7±2 cm in width, and 28.7±3.2 cm in height. The general shape of the nest was elliptical and measured 6.1±0.5 cm in length, 4.4±0.4 cm in width, and 2.4±2.4 cm in height, while the depth of the chamber was 5.98±0.6 cm. There was 1.7±0.3 nests per rock, 6.3±0.5 eggs per nest, and the eggs measured 1.5±0.02 cm in length, 1.1±0.04 cm in width, and weighed 0.92±0.08 g. The mean temperature inside the nest was 28.4±0.2° C and ranged from 21.1° C to 38.5° C. Nesting occurred during the rainy season (June to September), which dampen the ambient temperature for the embryonic development of the Aspidoscelis costata lizard.