Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid
Since cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems of reptiles are affected by temperature, accurate measurements are of great importance in both captive husbandry and research. Ectothermic animals generally have core body temperatures close to ambient temperature but can differ from the immed...
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| Format: | Article |
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PeerJ Inc.
2019-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/6291.pdf |
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| author | Carlos A. Valle Colon J. Grijalva Paul P. Calle Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez Galo Quezada Carlos A. Vera Gregory A. Lewbart |
| author_facet | Carlos A. Valle Colon J. Grijalva Paul P. Calle Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez Galo Quezada Carlos A. Vera Gregory A. Lewbart |
| author_sort | Carlos A. Valle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems of reptiles are affected by temperature, accurate measurements are of great importance in both captive husbandry and research. Ectothermic animals generally have core body temperatures close to ambient temperature but can differ from the immediate environment if they are using sunlight to thermoregulate. Many zoological facilities and exotic pet caregivers have begun using infrared temperature guns to assess ambient temperatures of reptile enclosures but there are currently few studies assessing the efficacy of these devices for measuring the body temperatures of reptiles. Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid are robust land iguanas endemic to the Galápagos archipelago. By comparing the infrared body temperature measurements of land iguanas against virtual simultaneous collection of cloacal temperatures obtained using a thermocouple thermometer, we sought to assess the efficacy of this non-invasive method. We found that internal body temperature can be predicted with a high level of accuracy from three external body temperature sites, providing a good non-invasive method that avoids the capture of animals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:01:18Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a369b50aead04199984b049290d03d54 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T07:01:18Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a369b50aead04199984b049290d03d542023-12-03T09:51:53ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592019-02-017e629110.7717/peerj.6291Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybridCarlos A. Valle0Colon J. Grijalva1Paul P. Calle2Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez3Galo Quezada4Carlos A. Vera5Gregory A. Lewbart6Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Campus Cumbayá Av. Diego de Robles S/N e Interoceánica, Quito, EcuadorGalápagos Science Center GSC, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, EcuadorWildlife Conservation Society, Zoological Health Program, New York, NY, USAGalápagos Science Center GSC, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, EcuadorTechnical Biodiversity Research, Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, EcuadorTechnical Biodiversity Research, Dirección Parque Nacional Galápagos, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, EcuadorNorth Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USASince cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems of reptiles are affected by temperature, accurate measurements are of great importance in both captive husbandry and research. Ectothermic animals generally have core body temperatures close to ambient temperature but can differ from the immediate environment if they are using sunlight to thermoregulate. Many zoological facilities and exotic pet caregivers have begun using infrared temperature guns to assess ambient temperatures of reptile enclosures but there are currently few studies assessing the efficacy of these devices for measuring the body temperatures of reptiles. Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid are robust land iguanas endemic to the Galápagos archipelago. By comparing the infrared body temperature measurements of land iguanas against virtual simultaneous collection of cloacal temperatures obtained using a thermocouple thermometer, we sought to assess the efficacy of this non-invasive method. We found that internal body temperature can be predicted with a high level of accuracy from three external body temperature sites, providing a good non-invasive method that avoids the capture of animals.https://peerj.com/articles/6291.pdfAmblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybridConolophus subcristatusConolophus pallidusGalápagosLand iguanaBody temperature |
| spellingShingle | Carlos A. Valle Colon J. Grijalva Paul P. Calle Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez Galo Quezada Carlos A. Vera Gregory A. Lewbart Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid PeerJ Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid Conolophus subcristatus Conolophus pallidus Galápagos Land iguana Body temperature |
| title | Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid |
| title_full | Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid |
| title_fullStr | Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid |
| title_full_unstemmed | Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid |
| title_short | Methods of body temperature assessment in Conolophus subcristatus, Conolophus pallidus (Galápagos land iguanas), and Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid |
| title_sort | methods of body temperature assessment in conolophus subcristatus conolophus pallidus galapagos land iguanas and amblyrhynchus cristatus x c subcristatus hybrid |
| topic | Amblyrhynchus cristatus X C. subcristatus hybrid Conolophus subcristatus Conolophus pallidus Galápagos Land iguana Body temperature |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/6291.pdf |
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