Mating behavior of the Oaxacan Oak Anole Anolis quercorum (Squamata: Sauria: Anolidae) on a shade coffee plantation in Sierra Madre del Sur of Oaxaca, Mexico

Authors

  • Jesús García Grajales Universidad del Mar. Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido – Sola de Vega, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca 71980, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6663-0388
  • Alejandra Buenrostro Silva Universidad del Mar. Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido – Sola de Vega, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca 71980, México. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3433-0668
  • Gibran Aldair Amador Larios División de Estudios de Posgrado. Universidad del Mar. Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido – Sola de Vega, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca 71980, México. https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1388-1080
  • Diana Andrea Nieves Rocha División de Estudios de Posgrado. Universidad del Mar. Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido – Sola de Vega, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca 71980, México. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-3252-9493
  • Ixil Pineda Ibarra División de Estudios de Posgrado. Universidad del Mar. Km. 2.5 Carretera Federal Puerto Escondido – Sola de Vega, Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca 71980, México.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10174.18.6.29093-29097

Keywords:

Anoles, behavioral signals, courtship, hemipenis, mating observation, reproductive

Abstract

Courtship and mating events in Mexican Anolis species have been reported mainly in captive conditions. Herein, we report a field observation of the mating behaviour of A. quercorum on a coffee plant, in the Sierra Madre del Sur, Oaxaca. Neck biting by the male, positioning on the female, head waving, copulation/intromission, as well as dislodging and retreat behaviours were observed in the wild. The mating duration was 25 minutes, which is within the reported period in the related A. punctatus. Future studies should improve and build on courting and mating observations to clarify if the observation duration reported here is part of the typical behavioural repertoire of A. quercorum.

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Published

26-06-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 6 (2026)

Section

Communications

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Copyright (c) 2026 Jesús García Grajales, Alejandra Buenrostro Silva, Gibran Aldair Amador Larios, Diana Andrea Nieves Rocha, Ixil Pineda Ibarra

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