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Thermal Biology of a Solitary Lizard: Anolis Marmoratus of Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles
Author(s) -
Huey Raymond B.,
Webster T. Preston
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.2307/1934975
Subject(s) - anolis , lizard , ecology , habitat , biology , thermoregulation , iguanidae , adaptation (eye) , range (aeronautics) , niche , zoology , sauria , materials science , neuroscience , composite material
To describe the thermal biology of Anolis marmoratus, a species living without congeners, we obtained 29 samples of air and body temperatures. Mean body temperatures (range 9.9°) differ from locality to locality, among habitats within localities, and during the day. Strong correlation of mean body with mean air temperatures among samples suggests that these lizards are routinely passive to ambient conditions. Indeed, short—term thermoregulatory behaviors such as basking and regulation of times of activity are rarely used by individuals in most populations. Nonetheless, evidence of habitat selection at one locality suggests that these anoles have long—term thermal preferences. The broad thermal niche of A. mamoratus seems primarily due to individual eurythermy rather than to populational differentiation. The general passivity of this and some other anoles may be an adaptation to life in tropical forests, where careful thermoregulation is disadvantageous.