Patterns of activity and thermoregulatory mechanisms in the primitive
Chinese Crocodile Lizard
Abstract
We employed camera traps to collect data on the activity patterns,
across a 24 hour period, of three free ranging adult Chinese crocodile
lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus), a primitive reptile and the only
lizard species in the family Shinisauridae. Our study demonstrated that
during the non-hibernation season, diurnal Chinese crocodile lizard
spent 96.73% of their time immobile (rest+sleep), 2.89% moving and
0.26% basking. Individuals regularly woke up around 5:30 AM and rested
between 7:30AM to 8:20 PM. Four substrates used by Chinese crocodile
lizards with per branch for 47.07±33.3% the ground for 28.34±15.56%,
bodies of water for 1.2±0.7% and stem .for 0.9±0.43%. Additional
analyses suggest that several factors including the exploitation of a
small home range, a high starvation tolerance, extended periods of
immobility (sleep + rest), and inhabiting a stable environment, enable
the Chinese crocodile lizard to minimize energy costs associated with
travel and thermoregulation, promoting its survival over long
evolutionary periods.