New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts
Using testis size to predict the mating systems of New Zealand
geckos
Amanda C. Todd
School of Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800, Christchurch Mail Centre
Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Current address: Science and Technical Publishing, Research,
Development & Improvement Division, Department of Conservation, PO
Box 10420, The Terrace, Wellington 6143, New Zealand. atodd@doc.govt.nz
Abstract The mating system is unknown for
the majority of New
Zealand geckos (Family Gekkonidae). I investigated interspecific
variation in relative testis volume across 19 New Zealand gecko taxa
and 63 additional species of squamate reptiles from other countries to
make predictions about the social mating system of the New Zealand
geckos. Relative testis size varied greatly between species of New
Zealand gecko, with testes ranging from 119% larger than expected to
75% smaller than expected. This variation was even greater across other
squamates, with testes ranging from 55 to 152% of expected size. This
variation could not be explained by seasonality of breeding, clutch
size or the sex ratio of populations. As species subject to more
intense sperm competition sport relatively larger testes in other
vertebrate groups, it is likely that similar variation in gecko testis
size is due to differences in mating systems between species. Based on
testis volume, it is predicted that at least half of the New Zealand
gecko taxa studied are likely to have polygynandrous mating systems.
Keywords gecko; Gekkonidae; mating system;
New Zealand;
reptile; testis size; testis volume
Z07046; Online publication date 9 May 2008; Received 4 October 2007;
accepted 6 February 2008
New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 103–114
0301–4223/08/3502–103 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008
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