Abstract

CASTILLO GABRIEL, Natalio; VILLAVICENCIO, Héctor José; ACOSTA, Juan Carlos  and  MARINERO, José. Field body temperature and temporal activity of lizards Liolaemus vallecurensis and Liolaemus ruibali in rigorous climate of the central Andes of Argentina. Multequina [online]. 2015, vol.24, n.1, pp.19-31. ISSN 1852-7329.

We studied aspects of the field body temperature and time of activity of two Andean lizards that are part of an ecosystem at 3700 m altitude in the Iglesia department, province of San Juan, Argentina. The data were collected in the month of January 2007, the cloacal temperature (Tc), substrate (Ts) and air (Ta) were recorded with a quick-read thermometer, the records of activities were done systematicaly between 8 and 20 hs. Liolaemus vallecurensis presented a body average of 31,13 °C being the minimum temperature 24,20 °C and the maximum 35 °C, the body temperature of field was not related to the temperature of the air and substrate. In the lizard Liolaemus ruibali body average was 30,40 °C, being the minimum 21,40 °C and the maximum of 34,80 °C, the body temperature is related to the temperature of the air, but no association was found with the substrate temperature. No differences were found in body temperature between sexes or between species. Both showed a pattern of activity bimodal, with difference in the time of maximum activity. In L. vallecurensis frequencies of activity showed no differences between the sexes, while in L. ruibali females were more active. The basking behavior during most of the time of activity seems to be crucial for achieving stable body temperatures in this harsh environment

Keywords : Liolaemus vallecurensis; L. ruibali; Body temperature; Pattern of activity; Argentina.

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