Resting metabolism of helodermatid lizards: allometric and ecological relationships |
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Authors: | D D Beck C H Lowe |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, 85721 Tucson, AZ, USA |
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Abstract: | We measured metabolic rates at 15 and 25°C in 42 helodermatid lizards ranging in mass from 26 to 1616 g. No consistent repeatable
daily rhythms of metabolism were detected. There were no significant differences in metabolic rates between the two species
of Heloderma. The temperature coefficient for metabolism (Q
10) was 3.0 between 15 and 25°C. The mass exponent for helodermatids (0.69) differed significantly from the among-species mass
exponent of 0.80 for all squamates combined. However, adult Heloderma had a mass exponent of 0.80. Rates of metabolism of adult helodermatids were lower than those of other squamate reptiles,
and at 15°C periods of apnea contributed to a further reduction in metabolic rate. Our finding that helodermatids have low
SMRs supports the hypothesis that ecology is important in influencing metabolic rate, and that “reclusive” squamates have
lower rates of metabolism than do nonreclusive species. |
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Keywords: | Metabolic rate Oxygen consumption Gilamonster Beaded lizard Heloderma |
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