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Size-related differences in the thermoregulatory habits of free-ranging komodo dragons

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journal contribution
posted on 2010-01-01, 00:00 authored by H J Harlow, D Purwandana, Tim Jessop, J A Phillips
Thermoregulatory processes were compared among three-size groups of free-ranging Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) comprising small (5-20kg), medium (20-40gm) and large (40-70kg) lizards. While all size groups maintained a similar preferred body temperature of ≈ 35 °C, they achieved this end point differently. Small dragons appeared to engage in sun shuttling behavior more vigorously than large dragons as represented by their greater frequency of daily ambient temperature and light intensity changes as well as a greater activity and overall exposure to the sun. Large dragons were more sedentary and sun shuttled less. Further, they appear to rely to a greater extent on microhabitat selection and employed mouth gaping evaporative cooling to maintain their preferred operational temperature and prevent overheating. A potential ecological consequence of size-specific thermoregulatory habits for dragons is separation of foraging areas. In part, differences in thermoregulation could contribute to inducing shifts in predatory strategies from active foraging in small dragons to more sedentary sit-and-wait ambush predators in adults.

History

Journal

International journal of zoology

Volume

2010

Article number

921371

Pagination

1 - 9

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Location

Cairo, Egypt

ISSN

1687-8477

eISSN

1687-8485

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2010, The Authors

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