A radio-telemetric study of the thermoregulation of free living water monitor lizards, Varanus S. salvator

Eight water monitor lizards, Varanus s. salvator, were captured; four individuals from an oil palm estate on the Malayan peninsula, and four from fresh water-deficient Tulai island 65 km off-shore in the South China Sea. They were fitted with a radio transmitter attached to a thermistor which was in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of comparative physiology. B, Biochemical, systemic, and environmental physiology Vol. 165; no. 2; pp. 125 - 131
Main Author: Traeholt, C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: 01-06-1995
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Summary:Eight water monitor lizards, Varanus s. salvator, were captured; four individuals from an oil palm estate on the Malayan peninsula, and four from fresh water-deficient Tulai island 65 km off-shore in the South China Sea. They were fitted with a radio transmitter attached to a thermistor which was inserted into the cloaca of the animals and released. The heating rate during basking was measured as 0.117 and 0.118 degree C/min while the daily cloacal temperature fluctuated between 29.5-37.3 degree C. Cloacal temperature was measured on other individuals caught at random times during the day, which revealed a considerable daily and individual variation. The average cloacal temperature during activity was 30.4 degree C. The peak activity appeared when body temperature was 31 degree C. Thermoregulation by behavioural means included cooling in water and reducing heat loss at night by sleeping in burrows. The cooling rate for two individuals when submerged in 29 degree C water was 0.308 and 0.340 degree C/min. There appeared to be a strong correlation between ambient temperature and cloacal temperature.
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ISSN:0174-1578
1432-136X
DOI:10.1007/BF00301476