Hormonal Induction of Color Change in Female Leopard Lizards, Crotaphytus wislizenii
Medica PA, Turner FB, Smith DD. 1973. Hormonal Induction of Color Change in Female Leopard Lizards, Crotaphytus wislizenii. Copeia. 1973(4):658-661
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) will induce red-orange pigmentation in non-ovariectomized female leopard lizards (Crotaphytus wislizenii) in 7-21 days depending upon the season. Progesterone is judged to be an important hormone in the process of color change, and will bring about pigmentation in the absence of ovarian tissue. Estrogen alone has no apparent effect on color change, but when administered before progesterone it appears to have a priming effect.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Medica, Phillip; Turner, Frederick; Smith, Donald
- Units
- BIBE
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Coloration, hormones, leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) - Squatama - Sauria