Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Study of lipid reserves in Liolaemus koslowskyi (Squamata: Liolaemidae): reproductive and ecological implications

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Journal of Comparative Physiology B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In reptiles, many lipid reserve structures were recognized, and different patterns of storage and utilization of lipids have been identified. In this study, a population of Liolaemus koslowskyi was studied to analyze the diversity and functioning of the lipid reserve structures. The specific objectives were to identify the main lipid reserve structures, and to describe their seasonal patterns; to study sexual and seasonal variations of the reserve structures; and to analyze the relation between seasonal patterns of such reserves with the sexual cycle and other biological aspects. Individuals of both sexes collected at five different times of the year were analyzed. The abdominal fat bodies, livers, tails, fat deposits of the lateral folds of the neck, the fat bodies of the axillary region and gonads were weighted. The fat content of livers, tails and neck fat reserves were determined through the extraction in a Soxhlet device. The volume of the ovaries, oviductal oocytes and testicles, and the average surface and thickness of the epididymides were estimated. The abdominal fat bodies and the tail-extracted fats were the main lipid reserves. In general, females showed higher lipid contents, and significant seasonal variations in weight and lipid content in both sex were found, while seasonal variations in the liver fresh weight and liver fat content were found only in males. The axillar and neck fats deposits probably function as auxiliary reserves, and the caudal autotomy did not significantly affect tail fat content. The sexual cycles were synchronic in both sexes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdala CS (2007) Phylogeny of the boulengeri group (Iguania: Liolaemidae, Liolaemus) based on morphological and molecular characters. Zootaxa 1538:1–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abràmoff MD, Magalhães PJ, Ram SJ (2004) Image processing with ImageJ. Biophotonics international 11:36–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold NE (1984) Evolutionary aspects of tail shedding in lizards and their relatives. J Nat Hist 18:127–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aun L, Martori R (1998) Reproducción y dieta de Liolaemus koslowskyi Etheridge 1993. Cuad Herpetol 12:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Avery R (1970) Utilization of caudal fat by hibernating common lizards, Lacerta vivipara. Comp Biochem Physiol 37:119–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benabib M (1994) Reproduction and lipid utilization of tropical populations of Sceloporus variabilis. Herpetol Monogr 8:160–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera A, Willink A (1980) Biogeografía de América Latina. Secretaría General de la Organización de los Estados Americanos (OEA). Programa Regional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniels CB (1984) The importance of caudal lipid in the gecko Phyllodactylus marmoratus. Herpetologica 40:337–344

    Google Scholar 

  • Daniels CB (1985) Economy of autotomy as a lipid conserving mechanism: an hypothesis rejected for the gecko Phyllodactylus marmoratus. Copeia 1985:468–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derickson WK (1976) Lipid storage and utilization in reptiles. Am Zool 16:711–723

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Rienzo JA, Casanoves F, Balzarini MG, González L, Tablada M, Robledo CW (2015) InfoStat (versión 2015). Grupo InfoStat, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina. http://www.infostat.com.ar

  • Doughty P, Shine R, Lee M (2003) Energetic costs of tail loss in a montane scincid lizard. Comp Biochem Physiol A 135:215–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etheridge R (1993) Lizards of the Liolaemus darwinii complex (Squamata: Iguania: Tropiduridae) in northern Argentina. Boll Mus Reg Sci Nat Torino 11:137–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández JB, Medina M, Kubisch EL, Manero AA, Scolaro JA, Ibargüengoytía NR (2015) Female reproductive biology of the lizards Liolaemus sarmientoi and L. magellanicus from the southern end of the world. Herpetol J 25:101–108

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox SF, Shipman PA (2003) Social behavior at high and low elevations: environmental release and phylogenetic effects in Liolaemus. In: Fox SF, McCoy JK, Baird TA (eds) Lizard social behavior. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, pp 310–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney FG, Fitzpatrick LC (1973) Energetics and lipid cycles in the lizard, Cnemidophorus tigris. Copeia 1973:446–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg SR (1972) Seasonal weight and cytological changes in the fat bodies and liver of the iguanid lizard Sceloporus jarrovi Cope. Copeia 1972:227–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillette LJ Jr, Sullivan WP (1985) The reproductive and fat body cycles of the lizard, Sceloporus formosus. J Herpetol 19:474–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn WE (1967) Estradiol-induced vitellinogenesis and concomitant fat mobilization in the lizard Uta stansburiana. Comp Biochem Physiol 23:83–93

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hahn WE, Tinkle DW (1965) Fat body cycling and experimental evidence for its adaptive significance to ovarian follicle development in the lizard Uta stansburiana. J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol 158:79–85

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halloy MC (1996) Behavioral patterns in Liolaemus quilmes (Tropiduridae), a South American lizard. Bull Md Herpetol Soc 32:43–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Halloy M, Robles C, Salica MJ, Semhan R, Juárez Heredia V, Vicente N (2013) Estudios de comportamiento y ecología de lagartijas de los géneros Liolaemus y Phymaturus (Iguania: Liolaemini). Cuad Herpetol 27:15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamann M, Limpus C, Whittier J (2002) Patterns of lipid storage and mobilisation in the female green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). J Comp Physiol B Biochem Syst Environ Physiol 172:485–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ho SM, Kleis S, McPherson R, Heisermann GJ, Callard IP (1982) Regulation of vitellogenesis in reptiles. Herpetologica 38:40–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibargüengoytía NR, Cussac VE (1999) Male response to low frequency of female reproduction in the viviparous lizard Liolaemus (Tropiduridae). Herpetol J 9:111–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Ji X, Wang P (1990) Annual cycles of lipid contents and caloric values of carcass and some organs of the gecko, Gekko japonicus. Comp Biochem Physiol A: Mol Integr Physiol 96:267–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kottek M, Grieser J, Beck C, Rudolf B, Rubel F (2006) World Map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification updated. Meteorol Z 15:259–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwan D (1994) Fat reserves and reproduction in the green turtle, Chelonia mydas. Wildlife Res 21:257–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Labra A, Carazo P, Desfilis E, Font E (2007) Agonistic interactions in a Liolaemus lizard: structure of head bob displays. Herpetologica 63:11–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Licht P, Gorman GC (1970) Reproductive and fat cycles in Caribbean Anolis lizards. Univ Calif Publ Zool 95:1–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin Z-H, Ji X (2005) Partial tail loss has no severe effects on energy stores and locomotor performance in a lacertid lizard, Takydromus septentrionalis. J Comp Physiol B 175:567–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martori R, Aun L (1997) Reproductive and fat body cycle of Liolaemus wiegmannii in Central Argentina. J Herpetol 31:578–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martori R, Aun L (2010) Reproducción y variación de grupos de tamaño en una población de Liolaemus koslowskyi (Squamata: Liolaemini). Cuad Herpetol 24:39–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Martori R, Aun L, Orlandini S (2002) Relaciones térmicas temporales en una población de Liolaemus koslowskyi. Cuad Herpetol 16:33–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Medel RG (1992) Costs and benefits of tail loss: assessing economy of autotomy in two lizard species of central Chile. Rev Chil Hist Nat 65:357–361

    Google Scholar 

  • Medina M, Ibargüengoytía N (2010) How do viviparous and oviparous lizards reproduce in Patagonia? A comparative study of three species of Liolaemus. J Arid Environ 74:1024–1032

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pianka ER (1970) Comparative autecology of the lizard Cnemidophorus tigris in different parts of its georgraphic range. Ecology 51:703–720

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R Development Core Team (2015) R: A language and environment for statistical computing (version 3.2.0). R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna. http://www.R-project.org

  • Ramírez-Bautista A, Vitt LJ (1997) Reproduction in the lizard Anolis nebulosus (Polychrotidae) from the Pacific coast of Mexico. Herpetologica 53:423–431

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Bautista A, García-Collazo R, Guillette LJ Jr, Carpenter GC (2006) Reproductive, fat, and liver cycles of male and female rose-bellied lizards, Sceloporus variabilis, from coastal areas of southern Veracruz, Mexico. Southwest Nat 51:163–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1989) Ciclo reproductivo y de cuerpos grasos de una población ovípara de Liolaemus alticolor. Bol Asoc Herp Arg 5:6–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1991a) Estudio histológico de los tractos reproductivos y actividad cíclica anual reproductiva de machos y hembras de dos especies del género Liolaemus (Reptilia: Sauria: Iguanidae). Ph.D. Thesis Dissertation, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1991b) Reproductive and fat body cycle of the lizard Liolaemus wiegmanni. Amph Reptilia 12:195–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1991c) Reproductive and fat body cycles of the viviparous lizard Liolaemus huacahuasicus. J Herpetol 25:205–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1992) Ciclos reproductivos y de cuerpos grasos en dos poblaciones de Liolaemus darwinii (Reptilia: Sauria: Tropiduridae). Act Zool Lill 42:41–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1994) Reproductive and fat body cycles of the oviparous lizard Liolaemus scapularis. J Herpetol 28:521–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez-Pinilla MP (1995) Reproductive and fat body cycles of the oviparous lizard Liolaemus bitaeniatus (Sauria: Tropiduridae). J Herpetol 29:256–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rocha CFD (1992) Reproductive and fat body cycles of the tropical sand lizard (Liolaemus lutzae) of southeastern Brazil. J Herpetol 26:17–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sandoval FMR, Rodríguez-Tobón A, León-Galván MA, Méndez de la Cruz F, Arenas Ríos E (2014) Fisiología reproductiva de la lagartija macho Sceloporus mucronatus. ReIbCi 1:121–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Selcer KW (1987) Seasonal variation in fatbody and liver mass of the introduced Mediterranean gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus, in Texas. J Herpetol 21:74–78

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Semhan RV (2015) Análisis comparativo de ensambles de lagartos del género Liolaemus: factores ecológicos y limitantes históricos. Ph.D. Thesis Dissertation, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán

  • Telford SR (1970) Seasonal fluctuations in liver and fat body weights of the japanese lacertid Takydromus tachydromoides Schlegel. Copeia 1970:681–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson M, Speake B (2004) Egg morphology and composition. In: Deeming DC (ed) Reptilian incubation: environment, evolution and behaviour. Nottingham University Press, Nottingham, pp 45–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Uetz P, Freed P, Hošek J (2019) The reptile database. http://www.reptile-database.org. Accessed 8 May 2019

  • Valdecantos MS, Lobo F (2007) Dimorfismo sexual en Liolaemus multicolor y L. irregularis (Iguania: Liolaemidae). Rev Esp Herp 21:55–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Verrastro L (2004) Sexual dimorphism in Liolaemus occipitalis (Iguania: Tropiduridae). Iheringia Sér Zool 94:45–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verrastro L, Rauber R (2013) Reproducción de las hembras de Liolaemus occipitalis boulenger, 1885, (Iguania, Liolaemidae) en la región sur de Brasil. Bol Soc Zool Urug 22:84–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Villavicencio HJ, Acosta JC, Cánovas MG, Marinero JA (2003) Dimorfismo sexual de Liolaemus pseudoanomalus (Iguania: Liolaemidae) en el centro-oeste de Argentina. Rev Esp Herp 17:87–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitt LJ, Zani PA (2005) Ecology and reproduction of Anolis capito in rain forest of southeastern Nicaragua. J Herpetol 39:36–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whittier J, Mason R (1996) Plasma triglyceride and β-hydroxybutyric acid levels in red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) at emergence from hibernation. Cell Mol Life Sci 52:145–148

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuur AF, Ieno EN, Elphick CS (2010) A protocol for data exploration to avoid common statistical problems. Meth Ecol Evol 1:3–14

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We especially thank Carlos Paz for all the support brought during the development of this study. To the Cátedra de Cereales y Forrajes of Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina, for allowing us to use their facilities when carrying out the laboratory analyses. To Mario Ruiz Monachesi and to the Abdala family for their support during fieldwork. To Segundo Nuñez-Campero, for his hospitality and support during the 2013 field trip. To Julio Maidana for his assessment in the laboratory analysis. To Ana Sofia Nanni for the translation of the manuscript and critical review. We thank Shai Meiri and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive criticisms and suggestions that have been of great help for the improvement of the manuscript. This research was made possible through the funding of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), and the financial support of Esteban Lavilla, from the Instituto de Herpetología de la Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucumán, Argentina; and Pablo Chafrat and David Camino, from the Museo Patagónico de Ciencias Naturales “Juan Carlos Salgado”, Río Negro, Argentina. Part of these studies were carried out with the support of the Projects PIP 2422; PIP 0303; PICT 2263 and PICT 1398.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo (UEL)–CONICET-Fundación Miguel Lillo, Instituto de Herpetología, Miguel Lillo 251, Tucumán, 4000, Argentina

    Marcos Maximiliano Paz, Noelia Elizabeth García, Romina Valeria Semhan & Cristian Simón Abdala

  2. Museo de Ciencias Naturales, Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (IBIGEO)-CONICET, Mendoza 2, Salta, 4400, Argentina

    Fernando José Lobo

Authors
  1. Marcos Maximiliano Paz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Noelia Elizabeth García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Romina Valeria Semhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fernando José Lobo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cristian Simón Abdala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marcos Maximiliano Paz.

Additional information

Communicated by N. Kronfeld-Schor.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Paz, M.M., García, N.E., Semhan, R.V. et al. Study of lipid reserves in Liolaemus koslowskyi (Squamata: Liolaemidae): reproductive and ecological implications. J Comp Physiol B 189, 595–609 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-019-01226-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-019-01226-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation