Reproductive Сycle of the Bushveld Lizard Heliobolus lugubris (Squamata: Lacertidae) from Southern Africa

Abstract. Males of Heliobolus lugubris exhibit a testicular cycle with a prolonged period of sperm formation (spermatogenesis) extending from May to March (no males were examined from winter). Females were gravid during between November and February. Based on the observation of corpora lutea from a previous clutch and concomitant yolk deposition for a subsequent clutch in the same ovary of four females, H. lugubris may produce multiple clutches in the same reproductive season. Mean clutch size for 25 females was 3.44 ± 1.42 SD, range: 1-6. Clutch sizes of one, two and three eggs are new minimum clutch sizes for H. lugubris. Neonates were collected in January, February and April.