José A. Marinero

Reproductive biology and sexual dimorphism of a high-altitude population of the viviparous lizard Phymaturus punae from the Andes in Argentina

Phymaturus punae is a viviparous lizard endemic to the Provincial Reserve San Guillermo, San Juan (Argentina). We present the first life history data of P. punae , belonging to an interesting genus adapted to cold climates. Females reach sexual maturity at 80.6 mm, and males at 84.4 mm snout-vent length. There is sexual dimorphism represented by larger and more robust males, but females show a wider body and a proportionally greater interlimb length than males. In males, spermatozoa become abundant in both testes and epididymi in mid-summer. Vitellogenic and pregnant females occurred simultaneously in late spring and mid-summer indicating a biennial reproductive cycle.

Thermal ecology of a population of the lizard, Liolaemus pseudoanomalus in western Argentina

The thermal ecology of the lizard Liolaemus pseudoanomalus was studied at La Laja, Albardon Department, San Juan Province, Argentina. Data were collected every 10 days from August 2000 to August 2001 by randomly revisiting bushes and low flagstones across the study site. Each individual was captured by hand, and the cloacal (Tb), substrate (Ts) and air (Ts) temperatures were measured (to nearest 0.1°C) with a rapid reading Miller-Weber thermometer. Tb was not influenced by season, sex or age group. There was a significant positive linear association between Tb/Ta and Tb/Ts. Tb and SVL were not correlated. The average field temperature of the study species was similar to other Liolaemus in the same geographic province. It is concluded that the thermal strategy of the species was heliothermy and thigmothermy.

A New Andean Liolaemus of the L. montanus Series (Squamata: Iguania: Liolaemidae) from Western Argentina

ABSTRACT. A new species of the Iguanian genus Liolaemus, member of the montanus series, is described. The species inhabits altitudes above 4000 meters and is endemic to the Provincial Reserves of Laguna Brava, province of La Rioja, and San Guillermo, province of San Juan, areas located in the Andes mountains of Argentina. Liolaemus sp. nov. has a medium-sized body (maximum SVL = 76.9 mm) with tail subequal in length to the SVL; unkeeled, juxtaposed dorsal scales, in high number around midbody (86–106); precloacal pores in males (4–7), mostly absent in females or in very low number (up to 2 pores); head and body strongly melanic; evident sexual dichromatism, and a distinctive color pattern. Liolaemus sp. nov. lives geographically close but in allopatry to L. andinus, L. eleodori and L. vallecurensis, all species of the montanus series, morphologically alike and probably phylogenetically related to the new species.