Reptile & Amphibian Forums

We would like to hear some opinions or facts about the second row, or partial second row in some cases, of femoral pores on chucks.

What locale have you noticed with this? Is it locale related? No relation to anything? Any info appreciated.

Thanks,
Nick & Austin

~we work with 2 types of chucks . . .

males and females

In the second edition of the Stebbins field guide, he still has the chucks broken out into subspecies. He says that the Glen Canyon chuckwalla, S.o. multiforaminatus usually has a secondary row of femoral pores. Both sexes are also described as retaining some semblance of cross bands. The range is given as being from the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam at Page Arizona to near Hite and the Henry Mountians, Garfield County, Utah.

I don't have the latest edition handy, but I know that he doesn't break them into subspecies so I'm not sure if the above is stated in that edition.

Hope that helps!
Alice

Alice I just wrote this big long explanation with Hollingsworth's reclassification of Sauromalus but for some reason lost it when I tried to post it. I will try to get the reference which I know is Herp Monographs No. 12 Dec but can't remember the year. I think 2001 or 02. I sent my only copy to the Rotterdam Zoo so I will try to confirm this so you can get a copy. To make it short all mainland chucks from NV to the Tip of Baja are now S. ater and all the subspecies no longer exist even multiforminatus. There are many differences but I guess none enough to classify them as different subspecies.

Tom-who am I? A no body but like most all Short-Horn Horned Lizards being put under Hernandezi, The old Herpitologists new there are differences in chucks, and as it goes for me and chucks, with the experience in chucks I have had from a child, I know there are differences especially if you handle them alot. I am of the opinion that there are differences, just me--certianly we'll have to live with ater until someone does work to the contrary.....Cheers!
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www.phrynosoma.org

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signature file edited. [phw 11/14/04]

Hi Nick

I have noticed it on several locales in NV and in CA from the NV line down to the Palm Springs area and I think if I remember right I have also seen it in the Mountain Springs area(On the one and only male I caught there). Also very interesting is that not all the animals at those locales have the second row or partial second row. I think it was thought at one time that the only race that had them were the Glen Canyon chucks. I have not read otherwise. I have never seen it on any of the more southern and eastern locales such as AZ and Mexico. What are your thoughts on it.

Also what other chucks do you work with besides the San Diegos? The babies I got from you are doing excellent-probably pushing 7 inches. Really good animals!
Tom

We haven't noticed any in AZ with the 2nd row or even a partial, but have in many locales in California. With the San Diegos we have hatched out over the years we have noticed some males from the same clutch end up with the "norm" 1 row, some with a partial 2nd row, and some with a full 2nd row. We were just curious as to why the variation in amount of rows within a locale. Wondering . . . do you think the males with the 2nd row are more likely to have highier testosterone; also do you think testosterone plays a role in longevity of a male chuck (where as if he has more testosterone is he more likely to get burned out and not live as long or would he be more likely to live longer and breed longer)?
As for chucks we are curently working with the San Diegos, 2 locales of Redbacks(going to ad one more down the line), raising blackbacks, Carrot-tails, and raising San Estiban Island Chucks.

Nick & Autsin

Nick & Austin