The brief life of the lizard Kentropyx viridistriga (Teiidae) from wet Chaco: a study based on skeletochronology

Estimation of individual age is key to answering questions on evolution and population ecology and to the conservation of species. Herein, we studied individual age, age at first reproduction and maximum life span of Kentropyx viridistriga (Boulenger, 1894), a lizard inhabiting the subtropical region of wet Chaco of Corrientes province, Argentina. We also estimated life history parameters such as lifetime reproductive effort, relative reproductive time and fecundity rate. Kentropyx viridistriga exhibited a lamellar pattern of bone growth, as typical of reptiles. Adult females exhibited thinner cortical bone than adult males. Males and females attain sexual maturity during their second activity season and reach a maximum life span of two and three years, respectively, suggesting a trade-off between maturation and longevity. Kentropyx viridistriga has a short life span, small clutch size and short relative reproductive time, suggesting that its capacity to demographically recover from habitat perturbations is limited, and populations are highly vulnerable to climatic and anthropogenic disturbances. Keywords: Age estimation, life-history traits, longevity, Gran Chaco, Teiid