Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 185-186 (2020) (published online on 27 February 2020)

First report of reproduction in the wild for Acanthosaura cardamomensis Wood et al., 2010 in

Russell J. Gray1,*

Acanthosaura cardamomensis is an agamid described from eastern Thailand and western (Wood et al., 2010). Although an earlier note on reproduction in this species was published by Goldberg (2014), this study was based only on counts of enlarged follicles in a preserved specimen (Goldberg, 2014). I here present the first report of a reproductive episode for this species in the wild. On 14 August 2013 at approximately 0900 hrs while walking to a trapping site for an ongoing biodiversity study in Sakaerat Environmental Research Station, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (ca. 14.5090°N, 101.9537°E), I spotted an adult female A. cardamomensis on the ground. The lizard was performing a curious behaviour in what appeared to be a small circular area cleared of leaves. The behaviour included arching of the back as if presenting a defensive posture as well as resting. Upon approach of curious observers, the individual moved a couple of steps away and opened its mouth in a threat display, revealing the hole it had dug beneath it in the soil, which already contained two eggs. Seconds after this display another egg was laid, but this time outside of the hole, likely due to observer interference (Fig. 1A). To prevent any more stress on the , all observers left and continued to the study site. Approximately an hour later, when retuning to the same trail on the way back from the study site, the same individual was found Figure 1. (A) A female Acanthosaura cardamomensis laying resting with her eyes closed next to of a covered hole eggs in an area she had apparently cleared of leaf litter, and two eggs which were laid outside for an assumed performing a threat display upon observer approach. Two eggs clutch total of four eggs (Fig. 1B). can be seen inside the nest cavity, while one is outside, perhaps due to observer interruption. (B) The same individual as in (A) one hour later. The female was lying in a position to cover her eggs laid inside the nest, with two eggs beside her laid outside the nest. Overall image quality is relatively poor due to the use of an older digital camera, the only type available at the moment of observation. Photos by the author.

1 705 Alligator Ranch Road, New Smyrna Beach, Florida 32168, USA. * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] 186 Russell J. Gray

Acknowledgments. I thank Colin Strine and his affiliate university, Suranaree University of Technology, for the project that lead to this natural history observation. I would also like to express my gratitude to Sakaerat Environmental Research Station for accommodating the various projects that have led to frequent natural discoveries such as this.

References

Goldberg, S.R. (2014): Natural history notes. Acanthosaura cardamomensis. Reproduction. Herpetological Review 45: 123. Wood, P.L., Jr., Grismer, L.L., Grismer, J.L., Neang, T., Chav, T. (2010): A new cryptic species of Acanthosaura Gray, 1831 (: ) from Thailand and Cambodia. Zootaxa 2488: 22–38.

Accepted by Hinrich Kaiser