with one of my C. vestigium females. In my case, it was a gravid female who was due to lay within a week or so. On this occasion, after many overly ambitious attempts by a particular male at mating, the female Baja tried to thwart his advances by laying on top of him. Then, much to my amazement, she proceeded to grasp the back of his neck in her teeth -mating style - and tuck her tail underneath his! The quizzical expression on the face of the male was priceless! I actually was able to video tape them in this position for a few seconds. After witnessing this in the context of the situation, I am convinced that this type of behavior in female C. vestigium (and perhaps other species?) is a method of restraining an especially "eager" male, and not an attempt by the female at initiating copulation. Female collared lizards in general are seldom, if ever, receptive to mating within the period immediately prior to, or following, depositing her eggs.



Brock

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