REPRODUCTIVE PATTERNS IN CHROMOSOMALLY DISTINCT RACES OF PHYLLODACTYLUS MARMORATUS (LACERTILIA GEKKNONIDAE) IN SOUTH-WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract
An examination of 677 museum specimens of three chromosomal races of Phyllodactylus marmoratus in south-western Australia showed different reproductive patterns in the two adjacent and abundant races, 2n=34 and 2n=36. Data for the 2n=32 race are very limited.

Females of all races were gravid in spring, but yolky follicles may occur in all seasons except mid-summer; the 2n=34 race also had gravid females in winter. Females with both eggs and yolky follicles were recorded in 2n=34 and 2n=36 races; over 30% of females had single egg clutches. Males of the 2n=36 race had largest testicular volumes in summer-autumn, a pattern similar to previous studies; males of the 2n=34 race had maximum testicular volumes in spring.