Evaporative Water Loss: Humidity Acclimation in Anolis carolinensis Lizards

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Abstract
A. carolinensis lizards maintained for .gtoreq. 7 days in dry air (< 30% rh [relative humidity]) had rates of total evaporative water loss that were < 1/2 those of lizards maintained in humid air (> 95% rh). Evaporation rates from skin isolated from lizards living in dry air were also < 1/2 those from skin of lizards kept in humid air. A. carolinensis can improve its water balance status in desiccating conditions by reducing water loss via evaporation, and reduction of cutaneous evaporation is an important component of this adjustment. The plasticity of evaporation rates of individual lizards in response to prior conditioning is large, and raises the question of whether the well known correlation between evaporation rate and habitat aridity in reptiles reflects primarily inherited or acquired characteristics.

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