Physiological Responses to Temperature in the Ground Skink, Lygosoma laterale

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Abstract
Seventy-two Lygosoma laterale were collected between June 1963 and April 1964. Continuous recordings of the body temperature indicate that animals spend 21% of the time at 30 to 36[degree]C, 52% of the time at 25 to 30[degree]C, and 27% of the time at 15 to 25[degree]C during the light period. The area of their terrarium in which these temperature ranges were measured constituted 5%, 23% and 72%, respectively. The ambient temperature of lethality is 38.5 to 39[degree]C in a humid environment and 40-41[degree]C in a dry environment. The metabolic rates for 1g ground skinks at ambient temperatures of 18.5, 30 and 36[degree]C and 0.111, 0.306 and 0.399 cc O2/hour, respectively. The heart rate of Lygosoma laterale is inversely related to body size and directly related to body temperature. Animals weighing 0.264, 0.867, 1.100 and 1.134g have heart rates at 30[degree]C of 9720, 7980, 7080 and 6000 beats per hour, respectively. The oxygen pulse declines between 30 and 36[degree]C. This is compensated by a heart rate greater than predicted for a constant oxygen pulse. The decline in oxygen pulse and enhancement of heart rate is interpreted to mean that stroke volume declines as body temperature increases from 30 to 36 [degree]C. Respiration is relatively constant at body temperatures between 26 and 33[degree]C, ranging between 30 and 50 breaths/ minute. The pattern of respiration is typical for lizards, in which a deep inspiration is preceded and followed by partial expirations.

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