Evidence for atypical nest overwintering by hatchling lizards, Heloderma suspectum
DeNardo DF, Moeller KT, Seward M, Repp R. 2018. Evidence for atypical nest overwintering by hatchling lizards, Heloderma suspectum. Royal Society. rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org. Proc. R. Soc. B 285: 20180632. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0632
A compilation of evidence regarding reproductive phenology by hatchlings of the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum), a lizard inhabiting the Sonoran Desert of North America. Data demonstrate that (i) Gila monster hatchlings from eggs oviposited in July do not emerge from their nests until late spring or summer of the following year, yet (ii) Gila monster eggs artificially incubated at field relevant temperatures hatch in 4–5 months. Also described is an excavation of a hatching Gila monster nest in late October, which coincides with the artificial incubation results. Together, these results provide strong support for the existence of overwintering in the nest by a lizard, and suggest that this reproductive strategy should be explored in a broader array of taxa.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding
- Date of Issue
- 2018-04-27
- Publisher
- Royal Society
- Units
- SAGU
- Keywords
- development, diapause, Gila monster, hatching, overwintering, reproduction, reptile
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Desert Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles , NPS.gov Subject Site: Deserts