P. Maragou et al., Comparative data on reproduction in Podarcis erhardii, Podarcis peloponnesiaca, and Podarcis taurica (Reptilia, Sauria, Lacertidae), ISR J ZOOL, 45(4), 1999, pp. 487-496
Variation in the reproductive traits of Creek populations of Podarcis erhar
dii, P. peloponnesiaca, and P. taurica living in similar habitats along the
same latitude was examined. Female body size, clutch size, and egg volume
were determined. In all three species, clutch size was positively correlate
d with maternal body size. P. erhardii appears to modulate its reproductive
effort by means of variation in both egg size and number. On the other han
d, egg size in P, peloponnesiaca and P. taurica has probably been optimized
, and an increase in reproductive effort would result in the production of
a larger number of eggs.