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Spontaneous Arousal in Reptiles? Body Temperature Ecology of Rosenberg’s Goanna, Varanus rosenbergi

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Life in the Cold

Abstract

Rosenberg’s goanna showed arousal from low body temperatures throughout the autumn and winter months. Frequency of arousal was significantly correlated to photoperiod, decreasing with shortening daylight hours and increasing several weeks after the winter solstice. Arousal increased in August three and six-fold over June and July despite lowest mean air and ground temperatures for the year and numerous rain days. Rates of heating were not significantly different throughout the winter months, but showed variations depending on daily fluctuations in environmental temperatures.

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Rismiller, P.D., McKelvey, M.W. (2000). Spontaneous Arousal in Reptiles? Body Temperature Ecology of Rosenberg’s Goanna, Varanus rosenbergi . In: Heldmaier, G., Klingenspor, M. (eds) Life in the Cold. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04162-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-04162-8_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-08682-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-04162-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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