Thermal Acclimation in Two Subspecies of the Tropical Lizard Mabuya striata

Groups of the low-altitude form Mabuya striata striata and the high-altitude form M. s. punctatissima were acclimated to cold and warm nighttime temperatures and allowed to thermoregulate behaviorally during the day. Resting metabolic rates of cold- and warm-acclimated groups of M. s. striata did not differ significantly at any temperature tested except 35 C. With M. s. punctatissima, resting metabolic rates of the warm-acclimated group were higher than those of the cold-acclimated group at all temperatures tested between 5 and 35 C. It is possible that the metabolic rate differences between the two acclimation groups of M. s. punctatissima serve to elevate metabolic rate during the warmer periods of the year, whereas the difference in the acclimatory responses of the two subspecies can probably be regarded as specific adaptations to the different environmental conditions under which the lizards live.