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We studied the reproductive characteristics of sympatric populations of Sceloporus formosus scitulus, Sceloporus omiltemanus (Phrynosomatidae), and Mesaspis gadovii (Anguidae) at the Omiltemi forest reserve (Guerrero, Mexico). Males are larger and reach larger body sizes at reproductive maturity and are more colorful than females in both Sceloporus, whereas males are smaller than females and reach sexual maturity at similar body sizes in M. gadovii. These species are single brooded and follow a common pattern of annual reproductive activity. The reproductive activity of females and males of the three species is seasonal; vitellogenesis is initiated in late summer and continues in autumn/rainy season, gestation occurs throughout the winter/dry season, and parturition occurs in early spring. All three species have intersexual synchrony in reproductive activity. In spite of similar reproductive schedules, some subtle features related to the length of each of the reproductive stages could be observed Inglés

Sceloporus formosus scitulus has a more extended reproductive season, and large females start vitellogenesis earlier than do small ones. Males have a prolonged reproductive activity and a short nonreproductive season. In contrast, the reproductive cycle of the other two species is defined by shorter reproductive season and less intrasexual asynchrony for both sexes than found in S. f. scitulus. The seasonal pattern of reproduction shared by these three species is characteristic of other viviparous lizards at high elevations in tropical and subtropical latitudes of Central and South America, being convergent for different lizard families. This convergence in reproductive patterns suggests a common evolutionary response to environmental factors associated with montane habitats, whereas specific differences observed within species are attributed to the particular evolutionary history of each taxon. Inglés

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