Reproductive strategies in the lizard, Calotes versicolor

Abstract

Animal species have evolved diverse reproductive strategies to maximize their reproductive success. Studies on the Indian garden lizard (Calotes versicolor) have recently revealed many fascinating reproductive strategies such as manipulation of clutch and egg size depending upon breeding timing, in spite of pelvic aperture constraint; switching from capital breeder to income breeder; female sperm storage as long as six months; oviductal egg retention for six months or even more under adverse conditions, by manifesting embryonic diapause and preventing oviposition. The findings on C. versicolor provide clues to the evolution of viviparity. In addition, perception of socio-sexual (tactile, visual and chemical) cues from conspecifics of opposite sex plays an important role in their own gonadal recrudescence and reproduction. The significance and mechanisms governing the evolution of diverse reproductive strategies in the lizard are discussed.