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Lizard reproductive strategies vary; they may be:
Lizard reproductive strategies vary; they may be:
* oviparous - laying eggs
* oviparous - laying eggs (most lizards)
* ovoviviparous - the eggs are retained within the female until birth of live young
* ovoviviparous - the eggs are retained within the female until birth of live young (all monitors, most iguanids, water dragons, all geckos, most chameleons)
* viviparous - live-bearing, with a placental type of circulatory connection
* viviparous - live-bearing, with a placental type of circulatory connection (blue-tongued skinks, shingle-backed skink, prehensile-tailed skink, Jackson's chameleon)
* parthenogenic - asexual reproduction found in lizards such as certain ''Lacerta'' spp. and whiptail lizards (Aspidocelis [''Cnemidophorus''] spp.) consisting entirely of females. Although they reproduce asexually, these females still show courting and pseudocopulation.
* parthenogenic - asexual reproduction found in lizards such as certain ''Lacerta'' spp. and whiptail lizards (Aspidocelis [''Cnemidophorus''] spp.) consisting entirely of females. Although they reproduce asexually, these females still show courting and pseudocopulation.
Sexual maturity in reptiles is mainly determined by size. Standard ages of sexual maturity found in the literature usually apply to free-ranging animals. However in captiivty, environmental conditions, care and most importantly diet vary dramatically, resulting in reptiles becoming sexually mature at very different ages. As a reference and rough generality, small lizards take 1 to 2 years and large lizards 3 to 4 years to reach sexual maturity.
Sexual maturity in reptiles is mainly determined by size. Standard ages of sexual maturity found in the literature usually apply to free-ranging animals. However in captiivty, environmental conditions, care and most importantly diet vary dramatically, resulting in reptiles becoming sexually mature at very different ages. As a reference and rough generality, small lizards take 1 to 2 years and large lizards 3 to 4 years to reach sexual maturity.