A Staging Table of Post-Ovipositional Development for the South American Collared Lizard Tropidurus torquatus (Squamata: Tropiduridae).

The mouse, chicken, African clawed frog, and zebrafish are considered ¨model organisms¨ due to their extensive embryological and genetic characterization. However, they are far from representative of known diversity, impairing phylogenetic analyses of developmental patterns. Since squamates have historically received limited attention in developmental studies, we here describe the developmental sequence for Tropidurus torquatus, and provide the first post-ovipositional developmental series for the lizard family Tropiduridae. Fifteen developmental stages are described based on morphological traits such as the eye and accessory visual structures, pharyngeal arches, fusion of facial primordia, limb development, pigmentation, and scales. Organogenesis is already in progression at oviposition (Stage 28), with embryos continuing to develop at the incubation temperature of 30°C ± 1°C, and hatching after 75 ± 5 days, at Stage 42. Comparisons with other lizards show a conserved embryonic sequence, however developmental timing differences were found in features such as the pharyngeal arches, endolymphatic sacs, pigmentation and scales. The development of the phallic and cranial lip of the cloaca anlages are compared with that of other lizards. The order of T. torquatus fore- and hindlimb formation differs from that most commonly observed in lizards. The abundance and close association of this species with urban environments, as well as the ease of capturing and managing females, makes T. torquatus an attractive source of developmental data for future experimental and ontogenetic studies. Anat Rec, 300:277-290, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The terrestrial reptile fauna of the Abrolhos Archipelago: species list and ecological aspects

We have studied the terrestrial reptile fauna of the Abrolhos Archipelago (a group of five islands located ca. 70 km off the southern coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil) and analyze here some of its ecological aspects such as diet, thermal ecology, activity, and some reproductive parameters. Three lizards comprise the archipelago's terrestrial reptile fauna: Tropidurus torquatus (Tropiduridae), Mabuya agilis (Scincidae), and Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae). The first two are diurnal and the latter is crepuscular/nocturnal (initiating activity at ca. 17:30). The activity period of T. torquatus extended from 5:30 to 18:30 h. Mean field body temperatures of active T. torquatus, M. agilis, and H. mabouia were, respectively, 34.0 ± 3.7ºC (range 23.8-38.0ºC; N = 75), 34.5 ± 2.2ºC (range 30.8-37.0ºC; N = 6), and 26.3 ± 1.1ºC (range 24.8-28.0ºC; N = 8). The predominant prey items in the diet of T. torquatus were ants, coleopterans, and hemipterans. In the diet of M. agilis, coleopterans were the most frequent prey items. For H. mabouia, the most important dietary items were orthopterans. Clutch size of T. torquatus averaged 4.1 ± 1.1 (range 2-6; N = 15) and was significantly related to female size (R² = 0.618; p = 0.001; N = 15). Clutch size for H. mabouia was fixed (two) and mean litter size of the viviparous M. agilis was 3.3 ± 0.6 (range 3-4; N = 3). Tropidurus torquatus and H. mabouia deposit their eggs under rocks in the study area, with the former burying them but not the latter; in both species, more than one female often oviposit under the same rock.

Estudamos a fauna de répteis terrestre do Arquipélago de Abrolhos (um conjunto de cinco ilhas localizadas a 70 km da costa sul do Estado da Bahia, Brasil) e analisamos alguns aspectos da ecologia das espécies, como a dieta, ecologia termal, atividade e alguns parâmetros reprodutivos. A fauna de répteis do arquipélago compreende três lagartos: Tropidurus torquatus (Tropiduridae), Mabuya agilis (Scincidae) e Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae). Os dois primeiros são diurnos e o último é crepuscular/noturno (iniciando atividade às 17h30). O período de atividade de T. torquatus se estendeu de 5h30 a 18h30. As temperaturas corpóreas médias em atividade de T. torquatus, M. agilis e H. mabouia foram, respectivamente, de 34,0 ± 3.7ºC (amplitude 23,8-38,0ºC; N = 75), 34,5 ± 2,2ºC (amplitude 30,8-37,0ºC; N = 6) e 26,3 ± 1,1ºC (amplitude 24,8-28,0ºC; N = 8). Os itens alimentares predominantes na dieta de T. torquatus foram formigas, coleópteros e hemípteros. Na dieta de M. agilis, coleópteros foram os itens mais freqüentes. Para H. mabouia, os itens alimentares mais importantes na dieta foram ortópteros. O tamanho médio da ninhada de T. torquatus foi de 4,1 ± 1,1 (amplitude 2-6; N = 15) e estava significativamente relacionado com o tamanho da fêmea (R² = 0,618; p = 0,001; N = 15). O número de ovos para H. mabouia foi fixo (dois) e o tamanho médio da ninhada para a espécie vivípara M. agilis foi de 3,3 ± 0,6 (amplitude 3-4; N = 3). Tropidurus torquatus e H. mabouia depositam seus ovos sob rochas na área estudada, sendo que o primeiro enterra seus ovos e o segundo não; em ambas as espécies, mais de uma fêmea freqüentemente utiliza a mesma rocha para oviposição.

The terrestrial reptile fauna of the Abrolhos Archipelago: species list and ecological aspects

We have studied the terrestrial reptile fauna of the Abrolhos Archipelago (a group of five islands located ca. 70 km off the southern coast of the State of Bahia, Brazil) and analyze here some of its ecological aspects such as diet, thermal ecology, activity, and some reproductive parameters. Three lizards comprise the archipelago's terrestrial reptile fauna: Tropidurus torquatus (Tropiduridae), Mabuya agilis (Scincidae), and Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae). The first two are diurnal and the latter is crepuscular/nocturnal (initiating activity at ca. 17:30). The activity period of T. torquatus extended from 5:30 to 18:30 h. Mean field body temperatures of active T. torquatus, M. agilis, and H. mabouia were, respectively, 34.0 ± 3.7ºC (range 23.8-38.0ºC; N = 75), 34.5 ± 2.2ºC (range 30.8-37.0ºC; N = 6), and 26.3 ± 1.1ºC (range 24.8-28.0ºC; N = 8). The predominant prey items in the diet of T. torquatus were ants, coleopterans, and hemipterans. In the diet of M. agilis, coleopterans were the most frequent prey items. For H. mabouia, the most important dietary items were orthopterans. Clutch size of T. torquatus averaged 4.1 ± 1.1 (range 2-6; N = 15) and was significantly related to female size (R² = 0.618; p = 0.001; N = 15). Clutch size for H. mabouia was fixed (two) and mean litter size of the viviparous M. agilis was 3.3 ± 0.6 (range 3-4; N = 3). Tropidurus torquatus and H. mabouia deposit their eggs under rocks in the study area, with the former burying them but not the latter; in both species, more than one female often oviposit under the same rock.

Estudamos a fauna de répteis terrestre do Arquipélago de Abrolhos (um conjunto de cinco ilhas localizadas a 70 km da costa sul do Estado da Bahia, Brasil) e analisamos alguns aspectos da ecologia das espécies, como a dieta, ecologia termal, atividade e alguns parâmetros reprodutivos. A fauna de répteis do arquipélago compreende três lagartos: Tropidurus torquatus (Tropiduridae), Mabuya agilis (Scincidae) e Hemidactylus mabouia (Gekkonidae). Os dois primeiros são diurnos e o último é crepuscular/noturno (iniciando atividade às 17h30). O período de atividade de T. torquatus se estendeu de 5h30 a 18h30. As temperaturas corpóreas médias em atividade de T. torquatus, M. agilis e H. mabouia foram, respectivamente, de 34,0 ± 3.7ºC (amplitude 23,8-38,0ºC; N = 75), 34,5 ± 2,2ºC (amplitude 30,8-37,0ºC; N = 6) e 26,3 ± 1,1ºC (amplitude 24,8-28,0ºC; N = 8). Os itens alimentares predominantes na dieta de T. torquatus foram formigas, coleópteros e hemípteros. Na dieta de M. agilis, coleópteros foram os itens mais freqüentes. Para H. mabouia, os itens alimentares mais importantes na dieta foram ortópteros. O tamanho médio da ninhada de T. torquatus foi de 4,1 ± 1,1 (amplitude 2-6; N = 15) e estava significativamente relacionado com o tamanho da fêmea (R² = 0,618; p = 0,001; N = 15). O número de ovos para H. mabouia foi fixo (dois) e o tamanho médio da ninhada para a espécie vivípara M. agilis foi de 3,3 ± 0,6 (amplitude 3-4; N = 3). Tropidurus torquatus e H. mabouia depositam seus ovos sob rochas na área estudada, sendo que o primeiro enterra seus ovos e o segundo não; em ambas as espécies, mais de uma fêmea freqüentemente utiliza a mesma rocha para oviposição.