Sex-age population structure of the multi-colored lizard (Eremias arguta deserti, Lacertidae) in semi-deserts of the Astrakhan region [ПОЛОВОЗРАСТНАЯ СТРУКТУРА ПОПУЛЯЦИИ РАЗНОЦВЕТНОЙ ЯЩУРКИ (EREMIAS ARGUTA DESERTI, LACERTIDAE) В ПОЛУПУСТЫНЯХ АСТРАХАНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ]

Studies on the sex-age structure in a population of the multi-colored lizard (Eremias arguta deserti Gmelin 1788) was carried out at the level of the elementary intra population group. Research area: sandy semi-deserts near the village Dosang, Astrakhan Region. The groups' definition was based on observations of the behavior, the published information about the species' sex-age structure, confirmed by autopsy, and a statistical analysis. The data obtained show the presence of five sex-age groups in the Spring population: immature individuals, half-adult males and females, and 2-year old mature males and females. In addition, according to their size, there were animals possibly older than 2 years, but they were singular. The September population of the multi-colored lizard was likewise divided into five age groups: juveniles, half-adult individuals of both sexes, and a small number of 1-year old mature individuals of both sexes. The Autumn intra-population group was not numerous, because by that time most of the adult animals had gone for hibernation. In Spring, the group of semi-adult lizards was 7.2 times smaller than that of adults. In Autumn, the number of juveniles was 2.1 times higher than in adults. In Spring, the sex ratio among the adult animals was close to 1: 1, among semi-adults the females predominated numerically, while both in Spring and Autumn the females prevailed amongst the half-adults. © 2020 Izdatel'stvo Nauka. All rights reserved.