Female sand lizards dig 'test' egg burrows before finally laying eggs in one. Does anyone know of any studies that have recorded or estimated the number of test egg burrows dug by an individual sand lizard (or any other oviparous lizard)? I expect that it can vary quite a lot, but I am interested to know if there is an average number.
The paper linked below (Stuart-Smith et al. 2005) describes an average of two 'test' burrows dug by female mountain dragons [Rankinia (Tympanocryptis) diemensis] before egg-laying. A rather different lizard from Lacerta of course, but perhaps this data will help.
http://eprints.utas.edu.au/13370/
Thank you Daniel - useful paper.
I have only found one other paper, which describes test nests dug by jacky dragons (Amphibolurus muricatus) as an average of 2.2 in 40% of nesting events and none in 60%. (Warner, D, & Shine, R 2008, 'Maternal nest-site choice in a lizard with temperature-dependent sex determination')
This answer too will not refer directly to L. agilis, however, it deals with another species (a chameleon) that nests in sandy areas. In the attached proceedings (p. 80) we described in an abstract abandoned, shallow excavations, before the final nest was excavated. Seven females dug in total 27 uncompleted nests, so it comes to 3.86 attempts per female, but note that one female excavated in six locations before nesting in the seventh attempt (over one week).
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