Field Observations of Cooling Rates of Galapagos Land Iguanas (Conolophus subscristatus)

Author(s)

Hugh I. Ellis, University of San Diego
James P. Ross

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1978

Journal Title

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A

Volume Number

59A

First Page

205

Last Page

209

Disciplines

Biology | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | Ornithology | Physiology

Abstract

1. Cooling constants and thermal conductances are calculated from the rates of cooling of three Conolophus subcristatus, the Galapagos land iguana.

2. The observed conductances are lower than those of comparably large lizards including the Galapagos marine iguana, Amblyrhynchus cristatus. Possible reasons for this difference are considered, especially the effect of air speed on cooling rates.

3. The advantage of low conductance for extended foraging and/or digestion in ectotherms employing temperature-dependent metabolic processes is discussed.

Notes

Original publication information:

Ellis, H.I. and J.P. Ross. 1978. Field observations of cooling rates of Galapagos land iguanas (Conolophus subscristatus). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 59A:205-209.

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Digital USD Citation

Ellis, Hugh I. and Ross, James P., "Field Observations of Cooling Rates of Galapagos Land Iguanas (Conolophus subscristatus)" (1978). Biology: Faculty Scholarship. 28.
https://digital.sandiego.edu/biology_facpub/28