SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN THE VIVIPAROUS LIZARD Sceloporus serrifer (SQUAMATA: PHRYNOSOMATIDAE) IN THE SOUTHEAST OF ITS DISTRIBUTION
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/fc.25942158e.2025.2.1064Keywords:
Body size, inter-sexual variation, length of limbs, morphometric traitsAbstract
In lizards, sexual dimorphism in size can vary in three distinct patterns: a) males larger than females, b) females larger than males, or c) males and females of the same size. In addition, these patterns can also vary among populations of the same species and among years for the same population. In the present study we analyzed some morphological traits of adult males and females of the viviparous lizard Sceloporus serrifer over two years (1999 and 2000) in a southern region of Mexico. Males had larger heads (length, height and width), and hind limbs (femur, tibia and length of the fourth toe of the left hind paw) than females. Head width, femur and tibia length, and length of the fourth finger showed significant differences in both years, while the head length and height only exhibited variation in one of the two years analyzed. On the other hand, no significant differences were recorded in snout-vent length, jaw length and width, forearm length, and armpit-groin distance in any of the years analyzed. This study provides new information on the biology of S. serrifer, as well as the variation in sexual dimorphism between years.
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