Annual variation of litter size and offspring size in a viviparous skink

This study examines variation in reproductive characteristics over 2 yr in the viviparous Australian skink Eulamprus tympanum. Litter size (xBAR = 2.8) was positively related to female body size in both years of this study, and there was no variation in the form of this relationship between years. However, offspring size, and the relationship of offspring size to female body size varied from 1989 to 1990. In most other species of lizard that have been examined, offspring size either does not change from year to year or changes concurrently with changes in clutch (litter) size. Here I suggest that because litter size is small, and additional offspring apparently cannot be produced without substantial growth by the female (almost-equal-to-11% of body length), the response to exogenous variables affecting reproductive investment may be mostly in terms of offspring size.

Herpetologica

Herpetologica

48

1938-5099

N/A

4

6