Comparative Ecology of Two Lizards

The ecology of the Australian agamid Amphibolurus inermis is described and compared with that of its North American ecological analogue, the iguanid Dipsosaurus dorsalis. Although broadly similar, there are a number of striking differences in the ecologies of these two lizards. The agamid is a rather generalized omnivore, while the iguanid is a specialized herbivore. A. inermis has a much lower average preferred (36.4' C) and active (36.8? C) body temperature than D. dorsalis (38.60 C and 41.00 C, respectively). The former species is also active year around and has a substantially longer breeding