Contributions to the Knowledge of Sexual Dimorphism in Liolaemus darwinii (Squamata, Liolaemidae) in the Monte Desert of Argentina

Abstract

The lizard Liolaemus darwinii (Liolaemidae) is a typical species with wide distribution in Monte environments of Argentina. The objective of this study is contribute to knowledge of sexual dimorphism in L. darwinii. We evaluated sexual shape and size variation of the cephalic region through procustes analyses with geometric morphometry. We predict that the heads in males tend to be larger than in females. The results showed significant sexual differences in shape, mainly in supraocular scales. Size was larger in males, although the differences were not significant. Our results are similar to other analyses using lineal morphometry in other populations of L. darwinii of Argentina. Geometric morphometry analyses are a useful tool for addressing sexual differences in Monte lizards. For San Juan province, in the center-west of Argentina, this is the first study using these analyses.

Keywords

• argentina
• san juan
• monte
• liolaemus darwinii
• geometric morphometry