Reproductive strategies for tropical lizards
In the summer of 1969 I spent three months in Costa Rica on an OTS field course in "Advanced Population Biology". The principle course leaders were D. H. Janzen, G. H. Orians, and J. H. Vandermeer. The specific problem I worked on was suggested to me by one of my doctoral committee members, D. W, Tinkle. We spent time at six different sites, although my lizard collections were made at the following four:
Finca La Pacifica, Guanacaste Pr., 7km N. of Canas
Finca Tobaga, Guanacaste Pr., 40km S. of Canas
La Selva Biological Station, Heredia Pr.
Isla de Providencia, Colombis
Those were the days before digitized/GPS-coordinated photography. And, I regret now, I was not alone in lacking any photographic documentation. The collection was sent, however, to the U. of Michigan Zoology Museum for species verification. As noted in the species id posts, several nomenclatural changes have occurred since '69; e.g. two Ameivas went to Holcosus, one Cnemidophorus went to Aspidoscellis, and C. lemniscatus went to C. espeuti.
Although not definitive, I believe my data strongly support the hypotheses (e.g. smaller clutches of larger eggs) outlined in Tinkle, et.al.
Here's a Dropbox link to the 6-page field report, with data, for this project.:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zlqkjo79hhm9u45/Reprocuctive%20strategies%20of%20tropical%20lizards.pdf?dl=0
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Rainbow Ameiva (Holcosus undulatus)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/1 to 7/16, near Canas, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected eight specimens for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry. These eight specimens were originally identified by me as Ameiva undulatus.
Photos / Sounds
What
Copper Anole (Anolis cupreus)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/1 to 7/16, near Canas, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected four specimens for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rose-bellied Lizard (Sceloporus variabilis)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/1 to 7/16, near Canas, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected one specimen for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Blackbelly Racerunner (Aspidoscelis deppii)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/1 to 7/16, near Canas, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected one specimen for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry. This specimen was originally identified by me as Cnemidophorus deppii.
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/1 to 7/16, near Canas, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected one specimen for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Middle American Ameiva (Holcosus festivus)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/22 to 8/9, at La Selva, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected one specimen for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry. This specimen was originally identified by me as Ameive festivus.
Photos / Sounds
What
Pug-nosed Anole (Anolis capito)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/22 to 8/9, at La Selva, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected one specimen for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Neotropical Green Anole (Anolis biporcatus)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/22 to 8/9, at La Selva, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected two specimens for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Border Anole (Anolis limifrons)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 7/22 to 8/9, at La Selva, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected five specimens for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Giant Ameiva (Ameiva ameiva)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 8/25 to 8/27, on Providencia, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected one specimen for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Photos / Sounds
What
Vivid Blue Rainbow Lizard (Cnemidophorus espeuti)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 8/25 to 8/27, on Providencia, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected seven specimens for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry. These seven were originally identified by me as C. lemniscatus
Photos / Sounds
What
Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis)Observer
hoaryherperDescription
From 8/25 to 8/27, on Providencia, while participating in a three-month Organization for Tropical Studies field course, I collected nine specimens for a comparative study of reproductive strategies in tropical lizards. Preserved specimens were sent to U. of Michigan Zoology Museum, for positive id. Reproductive data for eleven different species will be up-loaded to a journal entry.
Comments
I find your work very interesting!
@diegolobom Thank you. It's probably pretty dated by now, and I've been retired so long that I am no longer current on subsequent research in this area. I still enjoy trying to ID Costa Rican lizards on iNat, but even that is becoming slightly onerous, due to my 84 year-old eyes (with glaucoma). Thanks again for your kind comments. Pura vida. Bill
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