Movements and Seasonal Activity Cycles of the Lizard Uta stansburiana stejnegeri

Spoecker, Peter

A pitfall trapping study in the Mojave Desert has shown that adult female Uta stansburiana stejnegeri Schmidt are more restricted to one part of their home range than are males, both during the reproductive season and the rest of the year. A limited number of displacements of adult lizards of both sexes have indicated that homing occurs consistently for displacements of less than 250 ft. occasionally for displacements of up to 400 ft and never for those over 400 ft. The homing data indicate that homing takes place only from regions already familiar to the lizard, and that the lizards, therefore, know a much larger area than trapping data indicate. These results are discussed in view of other field studies of Uta stansburiana stejnegeri and of home-range considerations in general. Seventen juvenile movements which were much longer than any adult movements were recorded and these are interpreted as a dispersal mechanism for the species. Eggs hatch during July-September and hatchings usually mature the same year. During the time of the peak occurrence of juveniles (August-Seoptmber) very few adults are captured. Males become active earlier in the year than females.

Movements and Seasonal Activity Cycles of the Lizard Uta stansburiana stejnegeri

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