Rhythmic Color Change in the Lizard Xantusia vigilis

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Abstract
The pigmentation of 22 lizards from the Mohave desert, kept under conditions of nearly constant temp. and humidity and in constant darkness, was recorded photographically over a 24-hr. period. Degree of darkness was ascertained by comparison with a standard gray scale recorded on each negative. This technique showed that although individual lizards changed frequently from light to dark and back again, there was a significant tendency for more lizards to be light in the evening and for more to be dark during the rest of the day, confirming a postulated daily color change cycle in the absence of cyclic environmental factors.

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