Callopistes maculatus, the dwarf tegu, is a teiid lizard that occurs in desert habitats in Chile
A study of its daily activity cycle in summer showed a decrease in activity during midday, although the body temperatures of the lizards that were active in midday were not different from the body temperatures of lizards that were active in the morning or afternoon. That observation is not consistent with the hypothesis that midday temperatures are so high that the lizards must seek shelter to avoid overheating. Apparently dwarf tegus in this habitat are able to maintain their normal activity body temperatures throughout the day. What alternative hypothesis can you suggest to account for the decrease in activity of dwarf tegus in midday? If your hypothesis is correct, what additional concern does it suggest about the potential effect of global climate change on lizards?
Although the lizards can maintain normal body temperatures at midday, their insect prey cannot. The insects cease activity during the hot part of the day, and the midday decline in activity by the lizards is apparently a response to the unavailability of prey at that time. This observation adds another dimension to concerns about the effects of global climate change by showing that change can affect a species indirectly as well as directly. (M. A. Vidal et al. 2011 . Daily activity and thermoregulation in predator-prey interaction during the Flowering Desert in Chile. Journal of Arid Environments 75:802-808)
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