Reptiles Bibliography

REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS of SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO:
a bibliography by type of reptile

Compiled by Roger Steeb, New Mexico State University Library

Updated 6/1/2000

This bibliography is arranged by location of the study, specifically by county. There is a similar list is grouped by the type of reptile or amphibian. Below is a list of New Mexican counties and the geographic features found within that county, for example to locate studies of lizards in the Organ Mountains look under Dona Ana County. Studies that cross many county boundaries are listed under “New Mexico in General.” To include the entire author’s abstracts would make the bibliography too lengthy for this site. The quotes chosen are from the paper’s conclusions and illustrate interesting points of the article, but does not attempt to describe the methodology or full scope of the paper. The headings used are:

ALLIGATOR LIZARDS
COLLARED LIZARDS
EARLESS LIZARDS
GARTER SNAKE
GILA MONSTERS
HORNED LIZARDS
NIGHTSNAKES
RACERS
RATTLESNAKES
SAGEBRUSH LIZARDS
SALAMANDERS
SIDE-BLOTCHED LIZARDS
SPINY LIZARDS
TOADS & FROGS
TREE LIZARDS
TURTLES
WHIPTAILS

ALLIGATOR LIZARDS

Creusere, F. M. and W. G. Whitford. 1982. Temporal and spatial resource partitioning in a Chihuahuan Desert lizard community. Pages 121-127 in Herpetological communities (N.J. Scott, editor). Research Reports (13), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Gov Doc Microfiche I49.47/4:13
Lizards that overlapped spatially such as the western whiptail and lesser earless, tended to be active at different times. Patterns for Uta stanburiana and Scloporus magister are included.

Knight, R. A., and D. Duerre. 1987. Notes on distribution, habitat, and sexual dimorphism of Gerrhonotus kingii (Lacertilia: Anguidae). Southwestern Naturalist 32(2): 283-285. Branson QH1 So89n
The Madrean alligator lizard has been found in wooded canyons in the Florida Mountains, juniper-grassland in the Alamo Hueco, Florida, Mountains, Mount Riley, and Robledo Mountains. These strongly sexually dimorphic populations are unusual.

COLLARED LIZARDS

Best, T. L., and G. S. Pfaffenberger. 1987. Age and sexual variation in the diet of collared lizards (Crotaphytus collaris). Southwestern Naturalist 32(4): 415-426.
Branson QH1 So89n
In the Pedro Armendariz lava field, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Hymnenoptera, and Aranae were the major items in the diet. Adults and juveniles took different size prey but not different in kind. “Males and females differed morphologically and in the kinds of foods eaten, but the size and numbers of food items were similar among sexes.”

Parker, W. S. 1973. Notes on reproduction of some lizards from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. Herpetologica 29(3): 258-264. Branson QL640 H433 [Lesser earless; greater earless; collared lizard; western whiptail; little striped whiptail; checkered whiptail]

EARLESS LIZARDS

Gennaro, A. L. 1972. Home range and movements of Holbrookia maculata maculata in eastern New Mexico. Herpetologica 28(2): 165-168. Branson QL640 H433 [Lesser earless lizard]

________. 1974. Growth, size, and age at sexual maturity of the lesser earless lizard, Holbrookia maculata maculata, in eastern New Mexico. Herpetologica 30(1): 85-90.
Branson QL640 H433

Jorgennsen, E. E. and S. Demarais. 1998. Herpetofauna associated with arroyos and uplands in foothills of the Chihuahuan Desert. Southwestern Naturalist 43(4): 441-448. Branson QH1 So89n
In the desert-montane ecotone of the Tularosa Valley and McGregor Range of Ft. Bliss, reptiles and amphibians did not differentially associate with arroyos or uplands. “Only Scaphiopus couchii demonstrated an association for arroyo habitat, and only during fall 1993.” “Our study suggests that environmental variables other than those directly related to vegetation may be important determinants of herpetofauna habitat suitability.”

Price, A. H. 1988. Ecology and evolutionary implications of competition and parthenogenesis in Cnemidophorus. Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. Branson QH998 P7 [Colorado checkered whiptail; western whiptail; greater earless]

Sena, A. P. 1978. Temperature relations and the critical thermal maximum of Holbrookia maculata maculata (Reptilia: Iguanidae). Southwestern Naturalist 23(1): 41-50.
Branson QH1 So89n
The lesser earless lizard maintains fairly constant body temperature by shuttling between unshaded and shaded areas. At mid-day they climb shrubs rather than burrowing to avoid the heat. The critical thermal maximum was 46.5 deg C. which probably determines the distribution of the lesser earless lizard in the Southwest.

Sugg, D. W., L. A. Fitzgerald, and H. L. Snell. 1995. Growth rate, timing of reproduction, and size dimorphism in the southwestern earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus scitulus). Southwestern Naturalist 40(2): 193-202. Branson QH1 So89n
“The energy content in eggs can account for 63% to 90% of the difference in size depending on the hypothetical age at which females can divert stored energy to reproduction. These results suggest that hypoteses of sexual dimorphism that incorporate the cost of and timing of reproductive investments are viable alternatives to those employing sexual selection.”

GARTER SNAKE

Tanner, W. W., and C. H. Lowe. 1989. Variations in Thamnophis elegans with descriptions of new subspecies. Great Basin Naturalist 49(4): 511-516. Branson QH1 G7
A new subspecies of wandering garter snake, Thamnophis elegans arizonae from the Little Colorado River basin of Arizona and Catron County NM is described.

GILA MONSTERS

Campbell, J. A. 1976. New Mexico’s endangered monster. New Mexico Wildlife 21(4): 25-30. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.92

New Mexico Game and Fish BISON-M Animal Data. New Mexico Game and Fish Department Web Site. [Online] Available: http:nmnhp.unm.edu/bisonm/
This extensive database can be located with the URL or by looking up New Mexico Game and Fish, then clicking on species accounts.

Williamson, M. A. 1972. Heloderma suspectum. Pages 114-117 in Symposium on rare and endangered wildlife of the southwestern United States, September 22-23, 1972 Albuquerque. Santa Fe: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.81 R22

HORNED LIZARDS

Blackshear SD and J. V. Richerson. 1999. Ant diet of the Texas horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) from the Chihuahuan Desert. Texas Journal of Science 51(2): 147-152. Branson Q1 T313j
“Pogonomyrmex is the preferred prey item of P. cornutum because of its low aggressiveness, high foraging numbers and availability in the horned lizard's habitat.”

Cohen, A. C. and J. L. Cohen. 1990. Ingestion of blister beetles by a Texas horned lizard. Southwestern Naturalist 35(3): 369. Branson QH1 So89n
“Reflex bleeding from the joints of the beetles, a characteristic defensive reaction known to release cantharidin-containing body fluids, was ineffective as a feeding deterrent for the horned lizard.” In less than 30 minutes, 11 Megetra cancellata were consumed.

Shaffer, D. T., and W. G. Whitford. 1981. Behavioral responses of a predator, the round-tailed horned lizard, Phrynosoma modestum and its prey, honey pot ants, Myrmecocystus spp. American Midland Naturalist 105(2): 209-216. Branson QH1 Am35mn

Whitford, W. G., and M. Bryant. 1979. Behavior of a predator and its prey: the horned lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) and harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex spp.). Ecology 60(4): 686-694. Branson QH540 Ec731
“The lizards fed most often on ants that were not associated with nest discs or foraging columns and took only a few ants at any one place. The lizards have evolved a foraging strategy that allows maximisation of prey availability over weeks or months rather than per hour or per day. Estimates of horned lizard densities, ingestion rates and numbers of potential prey suggest that lizard numbers are regulated by the availability and productivity of Pogonomyrmex spp. “

NIGHTSNAKES

Dixon, J. R., and R. H. Dean. 1986. Status of the southern populations of the night snake (Hypsiglena: Colubridae) exclusive of California and Baja California. Southwestern Naturalist 31(3): 307-318. Branson QH1 So89n
“Statistical analyses suggest that all samples of Hypsiglena from the central and eastern part of the range represent a single taxon, H. torquata jani.”

RACERS

Glidewell, J. 1974. Records of the snake Coluber constrictor (Reptilia: Colubridae) from New Mexico and the Chihuahuan Desert of Texas. Southwestern Naturalist 19(2): 215-217. Branson QH1 So89n
The blue racer has relict populations in the Chihuahuan Desert only in the Lincoln National Forest and southeastern New Mexico.

Jones, K. B., and W. G. Whitford. 1989. Feeding behavior of free roaming Mastocophis flagellum: an efficient ambush predator. Southwestern Naturalist 34(4): 460-467. Branson QH1 So89n
Although red racers are fast-moving predators of lizards in open habitats such as among creosotebush, in midsummer they switch to an ambush strategy among mesquite coppice dunes. By anchoring the tail coil around the base of a stem, fewer lizards escaped.

RATTLESNAKES

Best, T. L., and H. C. James. 1984. Rattlesnakes (Genus Crotalus) of the Pedro Armendariz Lava Field, New Mexico. Copeia 1984(1): 213-215. Branson QL1 C79

Campbell, J. A., E. D. Brodie, D. G. Barker, and A. H. Price. 1989. An apparent natural hybrid rattlesnake and Crotalus-willardi (Viperidae) from the Peloncillo Mountains of Southwestern New Mexico. Herpetologica 45(3): 344-349. Branson QL640 H433 [Ridge-nosed & rock rattlesnake]

Degenhardt, W. G. 1972. Ridge-nosed rattlesnake: an endangered species. Symposium on Rare and Endangered Wildlife of the Southwestern United States, September 22-23, 1972, Albuquerque. Santa Fe, NM: N.M. Department of Game and Fish, pp. 104-113.
Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.81 R22

Hyder, P. W. 1992. Resource partitioning in sympatric rattlesnakes. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 H93 1992
Banded rock rattlesnakes preferred greater rock coverage than back-tailed rattlesnakes. They took more lizards than blacktails. This supports the hypothesis that sympatric species shift their nich parameters away from a common point.

Jacob, J. S. 1977. An evaluation of the possibility of hybridization between the rattlesnakes Crotalus atrox and C. scutulatus in the southwestern United States. Southwestern Naturalist 22(4): 469-485. Branson QH1 So89n . [Western diamondback & Mohave rattlesnake]

Montgomery, J. 1989. Ridgenose rattlesnakes carry transmitters. New Mexico Wildlife 34(4): 26-27. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.92

Tyrpak, C. 1994. Ridgenose Rattlers: engima in the Animas. New Mexico Wildlife 39(2): 19. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X

Price, A. H.. 1988. Observations on maternal behavior and neonate aggregation in the western diamondback, Crotalus atrox (Crotalidae). Southwestern Naturalist 33(3): 370-373. Branson QH1 So89n

SAGEBRUSH LIZARDS

Bailey, J, and C. Painter. 1994. What good is this lizard? New Mexico Wildlife 39(4): 22-23. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.92

Cuellar, H. S., and O. Cuellar. 1977. Absence of gonadal refractoriness in the lizards Cnemidophorus uniparens and Sceloporus graciosus. Copeia 1977(1): 185-188. [Desert grassland whiptail; sagebrush lizard]

Degenhardt, W. G., and K. L. Jones. 1972. A new sagebrush lizard, Sceloporus graciosus, from New Mexico and Texas. Herpetologica 28(2): 212-217. Branson QL640 H433

SALAMANDERS

Belfit, S. C., and V. F. Belfit. 1985. Notes on the ecology of a population of Eumeces obsoletus (Sciencidae) in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 30(4): 612-614. Branson QH1 So89n
Development of Elephant Butte Reservoir increased habitat for the Great Plains skink, which needs more mesic conditions

Delson, J. H. 1974. Ecology of the desert dwelling salamander Ambystoma tiginum. Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. Branson QH998 D457 [Tiger salamander]

Pope, M. H., and R. Higton. 1980. Geographical genetic variation in the Sacramento Mountain salamander, Aneides hardii. Journal of Herpetology 14(4): 343-346. Branson QL640 J826h [Sacramento Mountains; White Mountains; Capitan Mountains]

Ramotnik, C. A., and N. J. Scott. 1988. Habitat requirements of New Mexico's endangered salamanders. pages 54-63 in Management of amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals in North America; July 19-21, 1988, Flagstaff. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. General Report RM-166. Gov Doc A13.88:RM-166 [Sacramento Mountain salamander]

Ramotnik, C. A. 1998. Conservation assessment of the Sacramento Mountain salamander. Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station General Technical Report RM-GTR-293. Gov Doc A13.88/RM-GTR-293.

Williams, S. R. 1978. Comparative reproduction of the endemic New Mexico plethodontid salamanders, Plethodon neomexicanus and Aneides hardii (Amphibia, Urodela, Plethodontidae). Journal of Herpetology 12(4): 471-476. Branson QL640 J826h [Sacramento Mountain salamander]

SIDE-BLOTCHED LIZARDS

Best, T. L. and A. L. Gennaro. 1984. Feeding ecology of the lizard, Uta stansburiana in southeastern New Mexico. Journal of Herpetology 18(3): 291-301. Branson QL640 J826h

Peterson, D. K., and W. G. Whitford. 1987. Foraging behaviour of Uta stansburiana and Cnemidophorus tigris in two different habitats. Southwestern Naturalist 32(4): 427-433. Branson QH1 So89n
The western whiptail spends more time foraging under plants with large litter accumulations. A shift in vegetation from grassland to shrubland appear to favor the whiptail over the side-blotched lizard.

Waldschmidt, S. 1983. The effect of supplemental feeding on home range size and activity patterns in the lizard Uta stansburiana. Oecologia 57(1): 1-5. Branson QH540 O34

Worthington, R. D., and E. R. Arvizo. 1973. Density, growth, and home range of the lizard Uta-stansburiana-stejnegeri in southern Dona Ana County, New Mexico. Great Basin Naturalist 33(2): 124-128. Branson QH1 G7

SPINY LIZARDS

Ballinger, R. E., M. E. Newlin, and S. J. Newlin. 1977. Age-specific shift in the diet of the crevice spiny lizard, Sceloporus poinsetti in southwestern New Mexico. American Midland Naturalist 97(2): 482-484. Branson QH1 Am35mn

Ballinger, R. E. 1978. Reproduction, population structure and effects of congeneric competition on the crevice spiny lizard, Sceloporus poinsettii (Iguanidae) in southwestern New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 23(4): 641-650. Branson QH1 So89n
“Niche overlap indices suggested that the relative rarity of S. jarrovi at this location is likely due to direct competition for food by S. poinsetti. Niche overlap was greatest between yearling S. poinsetti and S. jarrovi.” Niche overlap was reduced between the two species during low insect abundance early in the summer as a result of increased
herbivory by adult S. poinsetti.

Baltosser, W. H., and T. L. Best. 1990. Seasonal occurrence and habitat utilization by lizards in southwestern New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 35(4): 377-384.
Branson QH1 So89n
“Lizard species segregated into two major habitat groupings, one composed of sites having relatively abundant cover and vegetation (e.g., sites occupied by S. magister, U. ornatus, U. stansburiana, and C. tigris) and other characterized by more open sites (e.g., sites occupied by G wislizenii, C. draconoides, P. modestum, and C. texanus.)” S. magister was generally found in association with nests of white-throated woodrats while U. ornatus was associated with trees or dense debris

Newlin, M. E., and R. E. Ballinger. 1976. Blood hemoglobin concentration in four species of lizards. Copeia 1976(2): 392-394. Branson QL1 C79 [Tree lizard & crevice spiny lizard]

Vinegar, M. B. 1975. Life history phenomena in two populations of the lizard Sceloporus undulatus in southwestern New Mexico. American Midland Naturalist 93(2): 388-402. Branson QH1 Am35mn [Southern spiny lizard]

Webb, R. G. 1988. Type and type locality of Sceloporus poinsettii Baird and Girard (Sauria: Iguanidae). Texas Journal of Science 40(4): 407-415. Branson Q1 J313j [Crevice spiny lizard]

Whitford, W. G., and F. M. Creusere. 1977. Seasonal and yearly fluctuations in Chihuahuan Desert lizard communities. Herpetologica 33(1): 54-65 Branson QL640 H433
Diversity was correlated with the rainfall of the previous two years. During a period of higher than average rainfall, the density of Cnemidophorus tigris nearly doubled.
Sceloporus magister numbers remained relatively constant over five years.

TOADS & FROGS

Creusere, F. M., and W. G. Whitford. 1976. Ecological relationships in a desert anuran community. Herpetologica 32(1): 7-18. Branson QL640 H433 [Spadefoot, green, and Great Plains Toad]

Dimmitt, M. A. 1980. Exploitation of food resources by spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus). Copeia 1980(4): 854-862. Branson QL1 C79

Dimmitt, M. A., and R. Ruibal. 1980. Environmental correlates of emergence in spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus). Journal of Herpetology 14(1): 21-29. Branson QL640 J826h

Mackay, W. P., S. J. Loring, T. M. Frost, and W. G. Whitford. 1990. Population dynamics of a playa community in the Chihuahuan Desert. Southwestern Naturalist 35(4): 377-384. Branson QH1 So89n
Spadefoot toads, Scaphiopus multiplacatus and Great Plains toad, Bufo cognatus, appeared in a playa near the Dona Ana Mountains during the roughly two weeks it held water in both May and August.

Pierce, J. R. 1975. Distribution of two mating call types of the plains spadefoot, Scaphiopus bombifrons, in southwestern New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 20(4): 578-582. Branson QH1 So89n

Scott, N. J., and R. D. Jennings. 1989. Our enigmatic leopard frogs. New Mexico Wildlife 34(2): 6-9. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.92

Sullivan, B. K. 1982. Male mating behaviour in the Great Plains toad. Animal Behaviour 30(3): 939-940. Branson QL750 B777

_________. 1983. Sexual selection in the Great Plains toad (Bufo cognatus). Behaviour 84(3-4): 258-264. Branson BF671 B394

________. 1983. Predator-prey interactions and breeding-pond use of temporary-pond species in a desert anuran community. Ecology 64(6): 1549-1555. Branson QH540 Ec731 [Great Plains toad, leopard frog; bullfrog & spadefoot toads]

Whitford, W. G., and K. H. Meltzer. 1976. Changes in O2 consumption, body water and lipids in burrowed desert juvenile anurans. Herpetologica 32(1): 23-25. Branson QL640 H433 [Western spadefoot, Great Plains toad; & green toad]

Woodward, B. D. 1982. Sexual selection and nonrandom mating patterns in desert anurans (Bufo woodhousei, Scaphiopus couchi, S. multiplicatus and S. bombifrons). Copeia 1982(2): 351-355. Branson QL1 C79 [Woodhouse’s toad & spadefoot toads]

________. 1982. Tadpole competition in a desert anuran community. Oecologia 54(1): 96-100.] Branson QH540 [Woodhouse's toad, leopard frog, bullfrog & spadefoot toads]

_________. 1984. Advertisement call variation and observations on breeding behavior of Bufo debilis and B. punctatus. Journal of Herpetology 18(4): 406-411. Branson QL640 J826h [Green toad & red spotted toad]

________. 1987. Clutch parameters and pond use in some Chihuahuan Desert anurans. Southwestern Naturalist 32(1): 13-19. Branson QH1 So89n
Females using permanent ponds produce large clutches containing many small eggs. “Temporary ponds appear to be areas of intense larval competition and females using these ponds produce small clutches composed of few relatively large eggs.“ Spadefoot toads & Woodhouse’s toad breed in these temporary ponds.

________. 1987. Intra- and interspecific variation in spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus) clutch parameters. Southwestern Naturalist 32(1): 127-156. Branson QH1 So89n
“In breeding aggregations in which many femeales bred, clutches tended to be heavy and contained many eggs. This may indicate that breeding aggregations composed of a few females are dominated by inexperienced females that are breeding at less than optimal time.”

TREE LIZARDS

Ballinger, R. E. 1976. Evolution of life history strategies: implications of recruitment in a lizard population following density manipulations. Southwestern Naturalist 21(2): 203-208. Branson QH1 So89n

Ballinger, R. E. 1977. Reproductive strategies: food availability as a source of proximal variation in a lizard. Ecology 58(3): 628-635. Branson QH540 Ec731

________. 1984. Surviorship of the lizard, Urosaurus ornatus linearis, in New Mexico. Journal of Herpetology 18(4): 480-481. Branson QL640 J826h [Animas lava outcrops]

Boykin, K. and N. Zucker. 1993. Winter aggregation on a small rock cluster by the tree lizard Urosaurus ornatus. Southwestern Naturalist 38(3): 304-306. Branson QH1 So89n
At Aguirre Spings tree lizards, both adults and juveniles, aggregated at south-facing crevices.

Carpenter, G. C. 1992. Aspects of dominance in tree lizards (Urosaurus ornatus). Thesis (Ph.D) NMSU. Branson QH998 C37 1992.
Tree lizards are aggressive, highly territorial species that use throat, belly, and back coloration as a set of social badges. Throat coloration is a relatively strong predictor of dominance outcomes in males from the polymorphic (orange, green, green, orange-green throat) Dona Ana population whereas previous experience is more important in the monomorphic (blue throat) coloration Aguirre Spring population. “Orange throat coloration seen in females and young males may serve to inhibit aggression from adult males.”

Castrucci, A. M. de L., W. C. Sherbrooke, and N. Zucker. 1997. Regulation of physiological color change in dorsal skin of male tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Herpetologica 53(4): 405-410. Branson QL640 H433

Delahunt, R. A. 1976. Summer activity cycles of Urosaurus ornatus in field and laboratory. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 D453

Dunham, A. E. 1982. Demographic and life-history variation among populations of the iguanid lizard Urosaurus ornatus: implications for the study of life-history phenomena in lizards. Herpetologica 38(1): 208-221. Branson QL640 H433 [Tree lizard]

Elfstrom, B. E. 1996. Winter aggregation and its relationship to social status in the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 E43 1996
Even when suitable over-wintering areas were not limited, these lizards formed aggregate groups without relationship to social status or gender.

Goldberg, S. R., H.J. Holshuh, G. A. Middendorf, and N. Zucker. 1994. Natural cactus spine injury in the tree lizard Urosaurus ornatus (Phrynosomatidae). Southwestern Naturalist 39(3): 303-305. Branson QH1 S089n
At Aguirre Springs Recreation Area, tree lizards are at risk of injuries from cactus spines and these injuries evoke an inflammatory response which may impair a lizards’s capacity for survival under natural conditions.

Goldberg, S. R. and N. Zucker. 1994. Urosaurus ornatus (tree lizard) sperm storage. Herpetological Review 25(3): 122. Branson QL640 H433r
There were vaginal folds suitable for sperm storage, but no over-winter sperm storage was detected.

Haenel, G. J. 1997. Mitochondrial DNA variation in populations of the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus. Copeia 1997(1): 174-178. Branson QL1 C79
Populations from Animas, the Dona Ana Mountains, Seminole Canyon State Park Texas, and Layman Lake Arizona had unique mtDNA restriction-site haplotypes. The Dona Ana population is from boulder mounds surrounded by desert and represents an independent evolutionary unit.

Hover, E. L. 1985. Differences in aggressive behavior between two throat color morphs in a lizard, Urosaurus ornatus. Copeia 1985(4): 933-940. Branson QL1 C79 [Tree lizard]

Mahrt, L. A. 1995. Territorial and related defense behavior in female tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus. Thesis (Ph.D.) NMSU. Branson QH998 M25 1995.
“Based on mapping data, female tree lizards do establish and maintain territories and these territories are entirely encompassed within a single dominant male’s territory.” “Results show that female U. ornatus do not differ in the amount of aggressive behaviors perfomed to their nearest neighbor or to a stranger.”

Michel, L. 1976. Reproduction in a southwest New Mexican population of Urosaurus ornatus. Southwestern Naturalist 21(3): 281-299. Branson QH1 So89n

Newlin, M. E., and R. E. Ballinger. 1976. Blood hemoglobin concentration in four species of lizards. Copeia 1976(2): 392-394. Branson QL1 C79

Pomerinke, J. M. 1993. Female mate choice in the tree lizard, Urosaurus ornatus. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson QH999 .P76 1993

Seely, J. A., G. P. Zegers, and A. Asquith. 1989. Use of digger bee burrows by the tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) for winter retreats. Herpetological Review 20(1): 6-7.
Branson QL640 H433r

Smith, G. R. and R. E. Ballinger. 1994. Thermal tolerance in the tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) from a desert population and a low montane population. Canadian Journal of Zoology 72(11):2066-2069. Branson QL1 C16jz
"Desert individuals tended to have higher panting thresholds in the summer than
low montane individuals, whereas the reverse held for late summer and fall."

________. 1995. Temperature relations of the tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus) from a desert population and a low -elevation montane population in the Southwestern USA. Journal of Herpetology 29(1): 126-129. Branson QL640 J826h

Zucker, N. 1985. Urosaurus ornatus (tree lizard) reproduction. Herpetological Review 16(1): 28. Branson QL640 H433r

________. 1986. Perch height preferences of male and female tree lizards, Urosaurus ornatus: a matter of food competition or social role? Journal of Herpetology 20: 547-553. Branson QL640 J826h

________. 1987. Behavior and movement patterns of the tree lizard Urosaurus ornatus (Sauria: Iguanidae) in semi-natural enclosures. Southwestern Naturalist 32(3): 321-333.
Branson QH1 So89n

________. 1988. A method for rapid and precise documentation of lizard coloration. Herpetological Review 19(1): 13-16. Branson QL640 H433r [Tree lizard]

________. Dorsal darkening a badge of status in the tree lizard? American Zoologist. 28(4): 73a. Branson QL1 Am35z

_________. 1989. Dorsal darkening and territoriality in a wild population of the tree lizard Urosaurus-ornatus. Journal of Herpetology 23(4): 389-398. Branson QL640 J826h

Zucker, N. and W. Boecklen. 1990. Variation in female throat coloration in the tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus): relation to reproductive cycle and fecundity. Herpetologica 46(4): 387-394. Branson QL640 H433

Zucker, N. 1992. Urosaurus ornatus (tree lizard) mortality. Herpetological Review 23(2): 60-61. Branson QL640 H433r

________. 1994. A dual status-signalling system: a matter of redundancy or differing roles? Animal Behaviour 47(1): 15-22. Branson QL750 B777
In tree lizards populations from the Dona Ana “…dorsal darkening is not merely a back-up signal when the throat colour of the contestants males is the same. It may serve, instead, as a long-distance dominance signal when population density is high.”

_________. 1994. Social influence on the use of a modifiable status signal. Animal Behaviour 47(1): 15-22. Branson QL750 B777
In high-density populations, males may darken dorsally to signal dominance. Throat color is another modifiable badge. “Males use the dorsal badge to signal their dominant status and exhibit territorial behaviour most readily when females are available to defend.”

TURTLES

Axtell, R. W. 1972. Ancient playas and their influence on the recent herpetofauna of the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Pages 493-512 in Transactions of the symposium on the biological resources of the Chihuahuan Desert region United States and Mexico, Sul Ross State University, Alpine Texas, 17-18 October 1974 (R. H. Wauer and D. H. Riskind editors). U.S. Department of the Interior. National Park Service Transactions Series, number 3. Branson (Gov Doc) I29.91: 3
Despite disjunctions of up 111 miles between known populations of turtles such as Chrysemys picta and Trionyx spiniferus, or the gartrer snake Thamnophis sirtalis, systematists have found no significant character shifts in any of these semiaquatic reptiles. The ancestral Rio Grande flowed directly south into a huge interior basin in northern Chihuahua. This and other Pleistocene lakes could explain these disjunctions.

Christiansen, J. L., and A. E. Dunham. 1972. Reproduction of the yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens flavescens) in New Mexico. Herpetologica 28(2): 130-137. Branson QL640 H433

Conant, R. 1974. Semiaquatic reptiles and amphibians of the Chihuahuan Desert and their relationships to drainage patterns of the region. Pages 455-491 in Transaction of the Symposium on the Biological Resources of the Chihuahuan Desert Region United States and Mexico, Sul Ross State University, Alpine Texas, 17-18 October 1974 (R. H. Wauer and D. H. Riskind editors.). U.S. Department of the Interior. Branson (Gov Doc) I29.91:3
Distribution maps with locality records of 19 species are shown for NM, west Texas and Mexico. They point out that the Sonoran mud turtle has been reported for the Chihuahuan Desert, but it may have been confused with the very similar yellow mud turtle.

Degenhardt, W. G., and J. L. Christiansen. 1974. Distribution and habitats of turtles in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 19(1): 21-46. Branson QH1 So89n
“Distributional and habitat data on nine species of New Mexico turtles are presented by locality maps and text.” In southern NM can be found snapping turtles, yellow mud, Sonora mud, western painted, red eared, and Texas spiny softshell turtles. Both ornate box and desert box subspecies are found. Texas slider is only found in the lower Pecos River, while the Big Bend turtle is only found at Elephant Butte and Bosque del Apache Refuge.

Nieuwolt, P. M. 1996. Movement, activity, and microhabitat selection in the western box turtle Terrapene ornata luteola, in New Mexico. Herpetologica 52(4): 487-495.
Branson QL640 H433
In the Sevilleta National Wildlife refuge, box turtles hibernated in burrows of kangaroo rats and were active May to October. In this study the home ranges of males and females were the same, although males moved faster. Desert box turtles have larger home ranges than ones in more mesic areas. Little time was spent in social activities.

Nieuwolt-Dacanay, P. M. 1997. Reproduction in the western box turtle, Terrapene ornata luteola. Copeia 1997(4): 819-826. Branson QL1 C79
Egg size or clutch size did not vary with environmental conditions, as was predicted by the optimal egg size theory. “These data indicate that spring rains may increase the proportion of females laying eggs in the summer, and in years with dry springs, turtles may defer laying eggs completely, rather than reducing annual output.”

WHIPTAILS

All-female lizards are rare in U.S. 1989. New Mexico Wildlife 34(3): 31-32. Zuhl Library J87 N6 X251.92 [Gray-checkered whiptail; Peloncillo Mountains]

Austin, S. C. 1996. Ordination analysis of herpetofauna and vegetation relationships on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR), New Mexico. Thesis (M.S.) NMSU. Branson S2999 A89 1996.
No apparent trend was found in the distribution of herpetofauna in relation with the ten most abundant shrubs and cacti. Whiptail lizards were the most abundant.

Best, T. L. and P. J. Polechla. 1983. Foods of the Texas spotted whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus gularis) in New Mexico. Southwestern Naturalist 28(3): 376-377.
Branson QH1 So89n
Diet consisted of primarily termites, followed by grasshoppers and spiders.

Best, T. L. 1985. Food habits of the western whiptail lizard (Cnemidophorus tigris) in southeastern New Mexico. Great Basin Naturalist 45(3): 527-534. Branson QH1 G7
In the shinnery oak-mesquite habitat, arthropods, especially Acrididae, Coleoptera, Isoptera and Lepidoptera, formed the major part of the diet. Sexual variation was more evident than seasonal variation. “ It could act to reduce intraspecific competition for food resources and might be associated with secondary sexual size dimorphism.”

Cuellar, H. S., and O. Cuellar. 1977. Refractoriness in female lizard reproduction: a probable circannual clock. Science 197(4302 July 29): 495-497. Branson microfiche Q1 Sci127 [New Mexico whiptail]

Cuellar, H. S. 1979. On the ecology of coexistence in parthenogenetic and bisexual lizards of the genus Cnemidophorus. American Zoologist 19(3): 773-786. Branson QL1 Am35z [Desert-grassland whiptail, western whiptail & New Mexican whiptail]

Cuellar, O. 1971. Reproduction and mechanism of meiotic restitution in the parthenogenetic lizard Cnemidophorus uniparens. Journal of Morphology 133(2): 139-166. Branson QL801 J826m [Desert-grassland whiptail]

Cuellar, O., and C. O. McKinney. 1976. Natural hybridization between parthenogenetic and bisexual lizards: detection of uniparental source by skin grafting. Journal of Experimental Zoology 196(3): 341-350. Branson QL1 J826ez

________. 1977. Genetic homogeneity and speciation in the parthenogenetic lizards Cnemidophorus velox and C. neomexicanus: evidence from intraspecific histocompatibility. Evolution 31(1): 24-31. Branson QH301 Ev64 [Plateau whiptail & New Mexican whiptail]

Cuellar, O. 1984. Reproduction in a parthenogenetic lizard: with a discussion of optimal clutch size and a critique of the clutch weight/body weight ratio. American Midland Naturalist 111(2): 242-258. Branson QH1 A

Densmore, L. D., C. C. Moritz, J. W. Wright, and W. M. Brown. 1989. Mitochondrial-DNA analyses and the origin and relative age of parthenogenetic lizards (Genus Cnemidophorus). IV. nine sexlineatus-group unisexuals. Evolution 43(5): 969-983. Branson QH301 Ev64

Dessauer, H. C., and C. J. Cole. 1991. Genetics of whiptail lizards (Reptilia: Teiidae: Cnemidophorus) in a hybrid zone in southwestern New Mexico. Copeia 1991 (3): 622-637. Branson QL1 C79

Dessauer, H. C., C.T. Cole, and C. R.Townsend. 2000. Hybridization among western whiptail lizards (Cnemidophorus tigris) in southwestern New Mexico: Population genetics,
morphology, and ecology in three contact zones. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History (246): 4-148. Branson QH1 Am35b
“Cnemidophorus tigris punctilinealis of the Sonoran Desert and C. t. marmoratus
of the Chihuahuan Desert contact each other and interbreed in the Animas Valley of southwestern New Mexico.”

Henricks, F. S., and J. R. Dixon. 1986. Systematics and biogeography of Cnemidophorus marmoratus (Sauria: Teiidae). Texas Journal of Science 38(4): 328-402. Branson Q1 J313J [Marbled whiptail]

Kay, F. R., R. Anderson, and C. O. McKinney. 1973. Notes on activity patterns of two species of Cnemidophorus (Sauria: Teiidae). Herpetologica 29(2): 105-107. Branson QL640 H433 [Western & little striped whiptail]

Painter, C. W. 1995. Gray-checkered whiptail lizard. New Mexico Wildlife 40(4): 26. New Library J87 N6
A trap and release census at Antelope Pass between 1987 and 1993 only resulted in 409 captures of this all-female endangered species.
Parker, W. S. 1973. Notes on reproduction of some lizards from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. Herpetologica 29(3): 258-264. Branson QL640 H433 [Lesser earless; greater earless; collared lizard; western whiptail; little striped whiptail; checkered whiptail]

Parker, E. D., and R. K. Selander. 1984. Low clonal diversity in the parthenogenetic lizard Cnemidophorus neomexicanus (Sauria: Teiidae). Herpetologica 40(3): 245-252. Branson QL640 H433 [New Mexican whiptail]

Pietruszka, R. D. 1981. Use of scutellation for distinguishing sexes in bisexual species of Cnemidophorus. Herpetologica 37(4): 245-249 Branson QL640 H433 [Whiptail lizards]