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Postprandial thermophily in reptiles
STUCHLOVÁ, Klára
Many ectothermic vertebrates, including some species of reptiles, raise their preferred body temperature after feeding, termed postprandial thermophily. Postprandial thermophily enable the animal to digest its meal at higher rate. However, most studies documenting this phenomenon have relied upon laboratory thermal gradients, with grossly oversimplify an animal's environment and the thermal gradient data may sometimes be misleading. On the other hand, in field or field enclosure, thermoregulation is just one concern among many (such as reproduction, predator avoidance, foraging) and the current biotic and abiotic factors may influence actual thermoregulation behaviour of the specimen. So there is the need for caution in interpreting results. Future research into the thermal ecology of ectotherms should take special care in the design of experiments and methodology. Study animals should be given microhabitats that approximate those they prefer in the wild.
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