My observations from a new angle. The structure of the colony I have been observing is as follows, The male has females along a 200 yard long stretch of rock fence. There is only one female with the dominant male at a time and they spend time side by side. I will now be studying the social structure as the less dominant individuals as well as trying to identify the individual animals. There always seems to be a subordinate males and females very near within five to ten feet but never next to the matriarchs as observed so far. I do know during bad weather they are under a rock waiting for it to warm up or quit raining.

Nesting Crotaphylus collaris are as follows I have found approximately 30 nests. The nests were under a flat rocks that is between 3 and four inches thick usually at the top of a small hill. The eggs are 9 to 12 on average and occasional communal nest as I doubt a collard lizard will lay 27eggs. The nest size is about 3” in diameter and backfilled with loose gravel toward the center of the rock although there have been exceptions. They sometimes utilize an old mouse burrow under the rock and rework it but 99% of nests seem to have been excavated. The eggs hatch around July 14 with near 100% success. I have found evidence that ants occasionally will eat an egg possibly a egg that did not hatch properly. I have found up to seven nests within twenty feet of each other suggesting at least seven adult reproductively mature females within the colony. Gravid females are seen near the middle of May.

I have seen two or so copulations and courtship but have failed to look at the social structure in the depth you are mentioning. After all my blabbering I need to go back and re-read your post a few more times as I get hyper and want to type. I know there are some holes in my thought process and if I can fill the holes I will be closer to the truth. Sorry for the rambling………Bill
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

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