AGGREGATION OF SQUAMATE REPTILES ASSOCIATED WITH GESTATION, OVIPOSITION, AND PARTURITION

Abstract

Prerequisite to the evolution of social behavior is a context in which individuals can interact. Animal aggregations near preferred habitat features can provide such a context. Near times of gestation, oviposition, and parturition, habitat features that facilitate these processes may be specialized and of paramount importance to the fitness of gravid individuals. Additionally, spatial proximity to conspecifics may enhance individual fitness through antipredator, thermoregulatory, or osmoregulatory effects. Such effects could result in selection for attraction to conspecifics, as well as localized habitat features, and more complex mutualistic and manipulative social interactions. Furthermore, philopatry and the proximity of littermates, parents, and offspring at the time of parturition or hatching would enhance inclusive fitness effects of mutualistic interactions. Mutual attraction to preferred habitat features as exhibited by gravid squamates may provide a useful model of early stages in the evolution of more complex social systems. Literature concerning aggregation of gravid squamates, communal nesting and birth, and interactions among neonates and postparturient females is reviewed.