ASPECTS OF THERMAL ECOLOGY AND HABITAT USE BY CNEMIDOPHORUS OCELLIFER (SAURIA: TEIIDAE) IN THE RESTINGA OF BARRA DE MARICÁ. RIO DE JANEIRO

Abstract

The thermal ecology of Cnemidophorus ocellifer (Sauria: Teiidae) "as studied at the Restinga of Barra de Maricá between April 1991 and February 1992, evaluating the habitat utilization by the lizard and its relationship with available heat sources (the heat from air and subtratum and direct insolation). The thermoregulatory behavior, the activity and the types of microhabitats used by the species were recorded in the field. Seasonal variations in eccritic temperature were tested by ANOVA The relationship between cloacal and microhabitat temperatures was evaluated by Regression Analysis. The eccritic temperature of C. ocellifer (38,7À2.0°C; N=80) varied significantly between winter and summer (ANOVA; p <0,05; f= 4,96). The air (r  =  0,46; p <0.01; N=42) and subtratum ( r = 0,35; p <0,05; N=39) temperatures affected the body temperature significantly only in the summer. The body temperature did not vary significantly along the day in winter (p > 0.05; f= 0,55; N=32), but, it had considerable variation in the summer (p<0,01; f= 3,58; N= 48). The highest activity period for the species was from 10h to 12h. C. ocellifer utilized predominantly the edge of shrubs (72%; N=61). We concluded that the principal heat source for the species in the area is the direct insolation and the relative importance of heat sources vary with the season of the year and with the basking behavior of the species.