Notes on Texas Alligator Lizard (Gerrhonotus internalis) Nesting Behavior

Authors: Corey Fielder, Jared Holmes, Toby Hibbitts

Gerrhonotus infernalis brooding occurs between February and June, and nesting sites have been documented to occur under boulders and in crevices (Greene
et al. 2009. In Jones and Lovich [eds.], Lizards of the American Southwest, pp. 492–495. Rio Nuevo Publishers, Tucson, Arizona). Long term parental behavior has been observed in captivity for G. infernalis, wherein the egg-laying female will stay either in or in proximity of the nest for the duration of the incubation period (Greene et al. 2006. S. Am. J. Herpetol. 1:9–19), yet there appear to be no extended observations of free-ranging lizards. Here, we provide observations of two female G. infernalis sharing an egg laying site under natural conditions and we report on an egg predation event.

Suggested Citation