Yu DU,Yanyan SUN,Chixian LIN and Xiang JI.Reexamination of Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from China[J].Asian Herpetological Research(AHR),2012,3(4):265-272.[doi:10.3724/SP.J.1245.2012.00265]

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Reexamination of Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from China

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Asian Herpetological Research[ISSN:2095-0357/CN:51-1735/Q]

Issue:

2012 VoI.3 No.4

Page:

265-272

Research Field:

Original Article

Publishing date:

2012-12-25

Info

Title:

Reexamination of Sexual Dimorphism and Female Reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from China

Author(s):

Yu DU¹;  Yanyan SUN²;  Chixian LIN¹ and Xiang JI^2*

¹ Hainan Key Laboratory for Herpetological Research, School of Life Sciences, Qiongzhou University, Wuzhishan 572200, Hainan, China
² Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210046, Jiangsu, China

Keywords:

Scincidae;  Eutropis multifasciata;  sexual dimorphism;  litter size;  neonate size;  reproductive output;  offspring size-number trade-off

PACS:

-

DOI:

10.3724/SP.J.1245.2012.00265

Abstract:

We reexamined sexual dimorphism and female reproduction in the Many-Lined Sun Skink Eutropis multifasciata from Hainan, China. Our data confirm that adults are sexually dimorphic in body size and shape, with males being the larger sex and larger in head size but shorter in abdomen length than females of the same snoutvent length (SVL). The rate at which head width increased with SVL was greater in males as opposed to the previous conclusion that the rate does not differ between the sexes. Maternal size was the main determinant of reproductive investment, with larger females generally producing more, as well as larger, offspring. Females produced up to nine offspring per litter as opposed to the previously reported 2–7. Most females gave birth between March and August, a time period approximately four months longer than that (May–June) reported previously. Females with a higher fecundity tended to produce smaller offspring as opposed to the previous conclusion that females do not tradeoff offspring size against number. Litter size, neonate mass and litter mass remained remarkably constant among years, and litter mass was more tightly related to female body size than litter size or neonate mass. Smaller females could produce relatively heavier litters without a concomitant reduction in postpartum body condition.

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