¿Es mejor tener un refugio cálido que uno frío para la performance locomotriz en lagartos del género Homonota?

CRUZ F.B.; KOZYKARISKI, M. L.; MORENO, L.; PUETA,M.; PEROTTI, M.G.

S. C. de Bariloche

Congreso; XV Reunión de Comunicaciones Herpetológicas de la Asociación Herpetológica Argentina; 2000

Diel Variation in two species of nocturnal lizards (Squamata, Gekkonidae, Homonota), with comments on retreat-site use. Felix B. Cruz1,2, Mónica Kozykariski3, María G. Perotti1,2 , Mariana Pueta3 , and Liliana Moreno4. 1 CRILaR – CONICET, Mendoza s/n, (5301) Anillaco, La Rioja, Argentina 2 Departmet of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2258, USA. 3 Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Cordoba, Velez Sarsfield 299  , (5000) Cordoba, Argentina 4 Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina.       Abstract: Diel variation in body temperature is not well understood among nocturnal lizards, but body size, coloration and behavior may be related to the amount of thermal inertia. It is known that some nocturnal lizards thermorregulate during the day. We wanted to know if there was diel variation in body temperature in two species of Homonota (Squamata: Gekkonoidae), and if there was a different pattern between both species. We exposed lizards to a heated retreat site, a retreat with a temperature lower than 25°C, or to choose for one of the former options. We observed diel body temperature variation in both species. Patterns were similar in both species, as well as their body temperatures. Body temperatures were higher during the day in both species, also when retreats were not warmed by a heating source. This may be related to a cyrcadian cycle. When they choose retreats, differences between both species were observed. Body color, body size and geographic distribution may be the cue for that difference.