Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Evolution

A lizard that generates heat

Birds and mammals generate heat to regulate body temperature, but most non-avian reptiles cannot. The discovery of endothermy during the reproductive period of a tegu lizard sheds light on the evolution of this characteristic.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Thermal strategies during reproduction.

Notes

  1. See all news & views

References

  1. Tattersall, G. J. et al. Sci. Adv. 2, e1500951 (2016).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Farmer, C. G. Am. Nat. 155, 326–334 (2000).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Farmer, C. G. Am. Nat. 162, 826–840 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Shine, R. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 36, 23–46 (2005).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Winck, G. R. & Cechin, S. Z. J. Nat. Hist. 42, 239–247 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Fitzgerald, L. A., Chani, J. M. & Donadío, O. E. in Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation (eds Robinson, J. & Redford, K. H.) 303–316 (Univ. Chicago Press, 1991).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Manes, M. E., Noriega, T., Casal, C. & Apichela, S. Cuad. Herpetol. 21, 21–29 (2007).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Lopes, H. R. & Abe, A. S. in Manejo y Conservación de Fauna Silvestre en América Latina (eds Fang, T. G., Montenegro, O. L. & Bodmer, R. E.) 259–272 (Inst. Ecol., La Paz, 1999).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Manes, M. E., Ibanez, M. A. & Manlla, A. Rev. Argentina Prod. Anim. 23, 119–126 (2003).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hutchison, V. H., Dowling, H. G. & Vinegar, A. Science 11, 694–695 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Slip, D. J. & Shine, R. J. Zool. 216, 367–378 (1988).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Shine, R., Madsen, T. R. L., Elphick, M. J. & Harlow, P. S. Ecology 78, 1713–1721 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Colleen G. Farmer.

Related links

Related links

Related links in Nature Research

Evolutionary physiology: A bone for all seasons

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Farmer, C. A lizard that generates heat. Nature 529, 470–472 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/529470a

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/529470a

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing