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[[Image:Anolis_carolinensis_mating.jpg|200px|thumb|right|'''Two Carolina anoles mating''' (Wikicommons)]]
[[Image:Carolina_anoles_mating.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Two [[Green Anole|Carolina anoles]] mating''' (© Cowenby, Wikimedia Commons)]]
==Introduction==
Lizards have breeding seasons determined by cycles of photoperiod, temperature (most common), rainfall, and food availability. A corresponding fluctuation can be seen in male lizards and testicular size. Male lizards may also undergo [[Lizard Behaviour|behavioural]] changes during breeding season and become more territorial and aggressive.
Lizards have breeding seasons determined by cycles of photoperiod, temperature (most common), rainfall, and food availability. A corresponding fluctuation can be seen in male lizards and testicular size. Male lizards may also undergo [[Lizard Behaviour|behavioural]] changes during breeding season and become more territorial and aggressive.
* '''oviparous''' - laying eggs (most lizards)
* '''oviparous''' - laying eggs (most lizards)
* '''ovoviviparous''' - the eggs are retained within the female until birth of live young (all [[Monitor|monitors]], most iguanids, [[Water Dragon|water dragons]], all geckos, most [[Chameleon|chameleons]])
* '''ovoviviparous''' - the eggs are retained within the female until birth of live young (all [[Monitor|monitors]], most iguanids, [[Water Dragon|water dragons]], all geckos, most [[Chameleon|chameleons]])
* '''viviparous''' - live-bearing, with a placental type of circulatory connection (blue-tongued skinks, [[Stump-tailed Skink|shingle-backed skink]], [[Prehensile-tailed Skink|prehensile-tailed skink]], [[Chamelone|Jackson's chameleon]])
* '''viviparous''' - live-bearing, with a placental type of circulatory connection (blue-tongued skinks, [[Stump-tailed Skink|shingle-backed skink]], [[Prehensile-tailed Skink|prehensile-tailed skink]], [[Chameleon|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.
Parthenogenesis has been reported in about 30 species of lizards.
Parthenogenesis has been reported in about 30 species of lizards.