How do viviparous and oviparous lizards reproduce in Patagonia? A comparative study of three species of Liolaemus

Key Points

• Viviparous species exhibit higher gestation rates than oviparous ones, which lay eggs.
• Oviparous lizards produced eggs while maintaining lower metabolic rates during reproduction.
• Analysis compared reproductive strategies across three Liolaemus species in Patagonia, highlighting ecological differences.
• Findings support the idea that reproductive strategies are shaped by environmental and evolutionary factors.