fat tail natural history
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G
Gecko
Guest
Varied depending on region.
G
Gecko
Guest
Well no ones really done the field research needed to answer your question . . .
Fat tails occur from "forest" to "savanna" type habitats.
You will find no list of food items or preditors, but you can look at lists of what lives there and make guesses. Such as most small insects of appropriate size and most medium sized lizard eating things etc.
Fat tails occur from "forest" to "savanna" type habitats.
You will find no list of food items or preditors, but you can look at lists of what lives there and make guesses. Such as most small insects of appropriate size and most medium sized lizard eating things etc.
O
okapi
Guest
The only people that I can think of that would know that kind of information would be profs. at a university or something. They could get their hands on scientific papers written by feild biologists... Ill run a quick search through the databases at my university.
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O
okapi
Guest
None were really helpful... And most were just abstracts (cuttings from the text that show the words I used in my search, not the full text). Here is all I got:
In Database: Biological Abstracts 2002
TITLE: Body size, male combat and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in eublepharid geckos (Squamata: Eublepharidae)
AUTHOR, EDITOR, INVENTOR: Kratochvil,-Lukas [Reprint-author]; Frynta,-Daniel [Author]
AUTHOR ADDRESS: Department of Zoology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-128 44, Praha 2, Czech Republic
AUTHOR E-MAIL: [email protected]
SOURCE: Biological-Journal-of-the-Linnean-Society. 2002; 76(2): 303-314
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2002
DOCUMENT TYPE: Article
MATERIAL TYPE: print
ISSN (INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SERIAL NUMBER): 0024-4066
LANGUAGE: English
ABSTRACT: Lizards of the family Eublepharidae exhibit interspecific diversity in body size, sexual size dimorphism (SSD), head size dimorphism (HSD), occurrence of male combat, and presence of male precloacal pores. Hence, they offer an opportunity for testing hypotheses for the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism. Historical analysis of male agonistic behaviour indicates that territoriality is ancestral in eublepharid geckos. Within Eublepharidae, male combat disappeared twice. In keeping with predictions from sexual selection theory, both events were associated with parallel loss of male-biased HSD and ventral scent glands. Eublepharids therefore provide new evidence that male-biased dimorphic heads are weapons used in aggressive encounters and that the ventral glands probably function in territory marking rather than in intersexual communication. Male-biased SSD is a plesiomorphic characteristic and was affected by at least three inversions. Shifts in SSD and male combat were not historically correlated. Therefore, other factors than male rivalry appear responsible for SSD inversions. Eublepharids demonstrate the full scope of Rensch's rule (small species tend to be female-larger, larger species male-larger). Most plausibly, SSD pattern hence seems to reflect body size variation.
ABSTRACT INDICATOR: Y
MAJOR CONCEPTS: Behavior-; Evolution-and-Adaptation
SUPER TAXA: [85408-] Sauria-, Reptilia-, Vertebrata-, Chordata-, Animalia-
ORGANISMS: Coleonyx-brevis (Sauria-): female-, male-; Coleonyx-elegans (Sauria-): female-, male-; Coleonyx-mitratus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Coleonyx-variegatus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Eublepharis-angramainyu (Sauria-): female-, male-; Eublepharis-macularis (Sauria-): female-, male-; Goniurosaurus-kuroiwae (Sauria-): female-, male-; Goniurosaurus-luii (Sauria-): female-, male-; Hemitheconyx-caudicinctus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Holodactylus-africanus (Sauria-): female-, male-
TAXA NOTES: Sauria-: Animals-, Chordates-, Nonhuman-Vertebrates, Reptiles-, Vertebrates-
PARTS, STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS OF ORGANISMS: head-: size-; precloacal-pore; ventral-scent-gland
MISCELLANEOUS DESCRIPTORS: Rensch's-rule; agonistic-behavior; body-size; head-size-dimorphism-[HSD]: evolution-; intersexual-communication; interspecific-diversity; male-combat; sexual-selection; sexual-size-dimorphism-[SSD]: evolution-
CONCEPT CODES: 01500- (Evolution-)
07002- (Behavioral-biology-General-and-comparative-behavior)
07003- (Behavioral-biology-Animal-behavior)
ACCESSION NUMBER: 200200209395
UPDATE CODE: 20020715
-------------------------------------
In Database: Biological Abstracts 2000
TITLE: Nest-site selection in two eublepharid gecko species with temperature-dependent sex determination and one with genotypic sex determination
AUTHOR, EDITOR, INVENTOR: Bragg,-Wendy-K [Reprint-author]; Fawcett,-James-D [Author]; Bragg,-Thomas-B [Author]; Viets,-Brian-E [Author]
AUTHOR ADDRESS: Kadoka, SD, 57543, USA
SOURCE: Biological-Journal-of-the-Linnean-Society. 2000; 69(3): 319-332
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2000
DOCUMENT TYPE: Article
MATERIAL TYPE: print
ISSN (INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SERIAL NUMBER): 0024-4066
LANGUAGE: English
ABSTRACT: At present, most turtles, all crocodilians, and several lizards are known to have temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Due to the dependence of sex determination on incubation temperature, the long-term survival of TSD species may be jeopardized by global climate changes. The current study was designed to assess the degree to which this concern is justified by examining nest-site selection in two species of Pattern II TSD geckos (Eublepharis macularius and Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) and comparing these preferences with those of a species with genotypic sex determination (GSD) (Coleonyx mitratus). Temperature preferences for nest sites were found to be both species-specific and female-specific. While H. caudicinctus females selected a mean nest-site temperature (32.4degree) very close to the upper pivotal temperature (32degreeC) for the species, E. macularius females selected a mean nest-site temperature (28.7degreeC) well below this species' lower pivotal temperature (30.5degreeC). Thus, the resultant sex ratios are expected to differ between these two TSD species. Additionally, nest-site temperatures for the GSD species were significantly more variable (SE = +- 0.37) than were temperatures for either of the TSD species (E. macularius SE = +- 0.10; H. caudicinctus SE = +- 0.17), thereby further demonstrating temperature preferences within the TSD species.
ABSTRACT INDICATOR: Y
MAJOR CONCEPTS: Behavior-; Development-
SUPER TAXA: [85408-] Sauria-, Reptilia-, Vertebrata-, Chordata-, Animalia-
ORGANISMS: Coleonyx-mitratus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Eublepharis-macularius (Sauria-): female-, male-; Hemitheconyx-caudicinctus (Sauria-): female-, male-
TAXA NOTES: Sauria-: Animals-, Chordates-, Nonhuman-Vertebrates, Reptiles-, Vertebrates-
MISCELLANEOUS DESCRIPTORS: genotypic-sex-determination-[GSD]; global-climate-changes; global-warming; nest-site-selection; sex-ratio; temperature-dependent-sex-determination-[TSD]
CONCEPT CODES: 62516- (Chordata-general-and-systematic-Reptilia)
03506- (Genetics-Animal)
07003- (Behavioral-biology-Animal-behavior)
07502- (Ecology-environmental-biology-General-and-methods)
12002- (Physiology-General)
23001- (Temperature-General-measurement-and-methods)
25502- (Development-and-Embryology-General-and-descriptive)
ACCESSION NUMBER: 200000146676
UPDATE CODE: 20000515
---------------------------------
Title: Dwarf and giant geckos from the cellular perspective: the bigger the animal, the bigger its erythrocytes?
Authors: STAROSTOVÃ, ZUZANA1
KRATOCHVÃL, LUKÊ1 [email protected]
FRYNTA, DANIEL1
Source: Functional Ecology; Aug2005, Vol. 19 Issue 4, p744-749, 6p
Document Type: Letter
Subject Terms: *ANTHROPOMETRY
*BLOOD cells
*BODY size
*ERYTHROCYTES
*GECKOS
*LIZARDS
Author-Supplied Keywords: cell size
Eublepharis
macroevolution
phylogeny
Allometry
Abstract: 1. Although evolutionary and ecological consequences of body size changes are relatively well understood, the proximate mechanisms of body size alteration at a cellular level are often surprisingly neglected, especially in vertebrates. The question of whether larger animals are made from larger cells is rarely tested in an explicit phylogenetic framework, i.e. among closely related species with known phylogeny. 2. Here we explore the relationship between erythrocyte and body size in a small gecko family (Eublepharidae) exhibiting large body size variation. 3. We found positive interspecific correlation of cell and body size. Assuming that size of other cell types changed in a similar way to red blood cell size, we can conclude than c. 15–20% of body size change in this group could be attributed to cell size variation. 4. As larger cells are generally more frugal than smaller cells, we hypothesise that a macro-evolutionary trade-off exists between body complexity and energetic efficiency. 5. We believe that knowing how particular animal lineages have solved this trade-off during body size evolution will help us explain much of the variation in ecophysiological traits among clades as well as within them. Functional Ecology (2005) 19, 744 –749 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.01020.x [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Functional Ecology is the property of Blackwell Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts)
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Zoology, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Praha 2, Czech Republic
ISSN: 0269-8463
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.01020.x
Accession Number: 17960808
Persistent link to this record: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=17960808&site=ehost-live
Cut and Paste: <A href="http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=17960808&site=ehost-live">Dwarf and giant geckos from the cellular perspective: the bigger the animal, the bigger its erythrocytes?</A>
Database: Academic Search Premier
In Database: Biological Abstracts 2002
TITLE: Body size, male combat and the evolution of sexual dimorphism in eublepharid geckos (Squamata: Eublepharidae)
AUTHOR, EDITOR, INVENTOR: Kratochvil,-Lukas [Reprint-author]; Frynta,-Daniel [Author]
AUTHOR ADDRESS: Department of Zoology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-128 44, Praha 2, Czech Republic
AUTHOR E-MAIL: [email protected]
SOURCE: Biological-Journal-of-the-Linnean-Society. 2002; 76(2): 303-314
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2002
DOCUMENT TYPE: Article
MATERIAL TYPE: print
ISSN (INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SERIAL NUMBER): 0024-4066
LANGUAGE: English
ABSTRACT: Lizards of the family Eublepharidae exhibit interspecific diversity in body size, sexual size dimorphism (SSD), head size dimorphism (HSD), occurrence of male combat, and presence of male precloacal pores. Hence, they offer an opportunity for testing hypotheses for the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism. Historical analysis of male agonistic behaviour indicates that territoriality is ancestral in eublepharid geckos. Within Eublepharidae, male combat disappeared twice. In keeping with predictions from sexual selection theory, both events were associated with parallel loss of male-biased HSD and ventral scent glands. Eublepharids therefore provide new evidence that male-biased dimorphic heads are weapons used in aggressive encounters and that the ventral glands probably function in territory marking rather than in intersexual communication. Male-biased SSD is a plesiomorphic characteristic and was affected by at least three inversions. Shifts in SSD and male combat were not historically correlated. Therefore, other factors than male rivalry appear responsible for SSD inversions. Eublepharids demonstrate the full scope of Rensch's rule (small species tend to be female-larger, larger species male-larger). Most plausibly, SSD pattern hence seems to reflect body size variation.
ABSTRACT INDICATOR: Y
MAJOR CONCEPTS: Behavior-; Evolution-and-Adaptation
SUPER TAXA: [85408-] Sauria-, Reptilia-, Vertebrata-, Chordata-, Animalia-
ORGANISMS: Coleonyx-brevis (Sauria-): female-, male-; Coleonyx-elegans (Sauria-): female-, male-; Coleonyx-mitratus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Coleonyx-variegatus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Eublepharis-angramainyu (Sauria-): female-, male-; Eublepharis-macularis (Sauria-): female-, male-; Goniurosaurus-kuroiwae (Sauria-): female-, male-; Goniurosaurus-luii (Sauria-): female-, male-; Hemitheconyx-caudicinctus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Holodactylus-africanus (Sauria-): female-, male-
TAXA NOTES: Sauria-: Animals-, Chordates-, Nonhuman-Vertebrates, Reptiles-, Vertebrates-
PARTS, STRUCTURES AND SYSTEMS OF ORGANISMS: head-: size-; precloacal-pore; ventral-scent-gland
MISCELLANEOUS DESCRIPTORS: Rensch's-rule; agonistic-behavior; body-size; head-size-dimorphism-[HSD]: evolution-; intersexual-communication; interspecific-diversity; male-combat; sexual-selection; sexual-size-dimorphism-[SSD]: evolution-
CONCEPT CODES: 01500- (Evolution-)
07002- (Behavioral-biology-General-and-comparative-behavior)
07003- (Behavioral-biology-Animal-behavior)
ACCESSION NUMBER: 200200209395
UPDATE CODE: 20020715
-------------------------------------
In Database: Biological Abstracts 2000
TITLE: Nest-site selection in two eublepharid gecko species with temperature-dependent sex determination and one with genotypic sex determination
AUTHOR, EDITOR, INVENTOR: Bragg,-Wendy-K [Reprint-author]; Fawcett,-James-D [Author]; Bragg,-Thomas-B [Author]; Viets,-Brian-E [Author]
AUTHOR ADDRESS: Kadoka, SD, 57543, USA
SOURCE: Biological-Journal-of-the-Linnean-Society. 2000; 69(3): 319-332
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2000
DOCUMENT TYPE: Article
MATERIAL TYPE: print
ISSN (INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SERIAL NUMBER): 0024-4066
LANGUAGE: English
ABSTRACT: At present, most turtles, all crocodilians, and several lizards are known to have temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Due to the dependence of sex determination on incubation temperature, the long-term survival of TSD species may be jeopardized by global climate changes. The current study was designed to assess the degree to which this concern is justified by examining nest-site selection in two species of Pattern II TSD geckos (Eublepharis macularius and Hemitheconyx caudicinctus) and comparing these preferences with those of a species with genotypic sex determination (GSD) (Coleonyx mitratus). Temperature preferences for nest sites were found to be both species-specific and female-specific. While H. caudicinctus females selected a mean nest-site temperature (32.4degree) very close to the upper pivotal temperature (32degreeC) for the species, E. macularius females selected a mean nest-site temperature (28.7degreeC) well below this species' lower pivotal temperature (30.5degreeC). Thus, the resultant sex ratios are expected to differ between these two TSD species. Additionally, nest-site temperatures for the GSD species were significantly more variable (SE = +- 0.37) than were temperatures for either of the TSD species (E. macularius SE = +- 0.10; H. caudicinctus SE = +- 0.17), thereby further demonstrating temperature preferences within the TSD species.
ABSTRACT INDICATOR: Y
MAJOR CONCEPTS: Behavior-; Development-
SUPER TAXA: [85408-] Sauria-, Reptilia-, Vertebrata-, Chordata-, Animalia-
ORGANISMS: Coleonyx-mitratus (Sauria-): female-, male-; Eublepharis-macularius (Sauria-): female-, male-; Hemitheconyx-caudicinctus (Sauria-): female-, male-
TAXA NOTES: Sauria-: Animals-, Chordates-, Nonhuman-Vertebrates, Reptiles-, Vertebrates-
MISCELLANEOUS DESCRIPTORS: genotypic-sex-determination-[GSD]; global-climate-changes; global-warming; nest-site-selection; sex-ratio; temperature-dependent-sex-determination-[TSD]
CONCEPT CODES: 62516- (Chordata-general-and-systematic-Reptilia)
03506- (Genetics-Animal)
07003- (Behavioral-biology-Animal-behavior)
07502- (Ecology-environmental-biology-General-and-methods)
12002- (Physiology-General)
23001- (Temperature-General-measurement-and-methods)
25502- (Development-and-Embryology-General-and-descriptive)
ACCESSION NUMBER: 200000146676
UPDATE CODE: 20000515
---------------------------------
Title: Dwarf and giant geckos from the cellular perspective: the bigger the animal, the bigger its erythrocytes?
Authors: STAROSTOVÃ, ZUZANA1
KRATOCHVÃL, LUKÊ1 [email protected]
FRYNTA, DANIEL1
Source: Functional Ecology; Aug2005, Vol. 19 Issue 4, p744-749, 6p
Document Type: Letter
Subject Terms: *ANTHROPOMETRY
*BLOOD cells
*BODY size
*ERYTHROCYTES
*GECKOS
*LIZARDS
Author-Supplied Keywords: cell size
Eublepharis
macroevolution
phylogeny
Allometry
Abstract: 1. Although evolutionary and ecological consequences of body size changes are relatively well understood, the proximate mechanisms of body size alteration at a cellular level are often surprisingly neglected, especially in vertebrates. The question of whether larger animals are made from larger cells is rarely tested in an explicit phylogenetic framework, i.e. among closely related species with known phylogeny. 2. Here we explore the relationship between erythrocyte and body size in a small gecko family (Eublepharidae) exhibiting large body size variation. 3. We found positive interspecific correlation of cell and body size. Assuming that size of other cell types changed in a similar way to red blood cell size, we can conclude than c. 15–20% of body size change in this group could be attributed to cell size variation. 4. As larger cells are generally more frugal than smaller cells, we hypothesise that a macro-evolutionary trade-off exists between body complexity and energetic efficiency. 5. We believe that knowing how particular animal lineages have solved this trade-off during body size evolution will help us explain much of the variation in ecophysiological traits among clades as well as within them. Functional Ecology (2005) 19, 744 –749 doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.01020.x [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Functional Ecology is the property of Blackwell Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts)
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Zoology, Charles University, Viničná 7, CZ-128 44 Praha 2, Czech Republic
ISSN: 0269-8463
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.01020.x
Accession Number: 17960808
Persistent link to this record: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=17960808&site=ehost-live
Cut and Paste: <A href="http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=17960808&site=ehost-live">Dwarf and giant geckos from the cellular perspective: the bigger the animal, the bigger its erythrocytes?</A>
Database: Academic Search Premier
Last edited by a moderator:
O
okapi
Guest
the info didnt really help though... it was just articles on
nesting site temperature choices,
cell size,
and head size in males.
nesting site temperature choices,
cell size,
and head size in males.
it would be nice to find information to help my gecko husbandry, but really i just like learning.
i found the head size thing fascinating. reminds me of the broad shoulders in human males. sexual dimorphism due specifically to male combat.
ive been curious about the subject of the second article for a while now. my questions would be, if global warming really poses a threat (via the lizards producing only males or females), how come we still have reptiles today? or is it that the temp sexed species actually do die off whenever the climate changes, and the temp sexed specise alive today have just diverged from parent species since the last climate change? or maybe its that the climate is changing too rapidly?
the third article i just found kinda wierd, as i had never even thought about diferant sized cells and how they might relate to an organisms size. interesting though, but not the kinda thing i really go for. or at least i havent seen an aspect to it that really catches my imagination.
i found the head size thing fascinating. reminds me of the broad shoulders in human males. sexual dimorphism due specifically to male combat.
ive been curious about the subject of the second article for a while now. my questions would be, if global warming really poses a threat (via the lizards producing only males or females), how come we still have reptiles today? or is it that the temp sexed species actually do die off whenever the climate changes, and the temp sexed specise alive today have just diverged from parent species since the last climate change? or maybe its that the climate is changing too rapidly?
the third article i just found kinda wierd, as i had never even thought about diferant sized cells and how they might relate to an organisms size. interesting though, but not the kinda thing i really go for. or at least i havent seen an aspect to it that really catches my imagination.
G
Gecko
Guest
The best thing you will find is species lists of the region. You can guess then what might eat them and what they might eat. If it helps almost all exported fat tails come from two main countries as far as I know (although a third rarely). "Eyelash Geckos" book has the closest thing to what yuo are looking for maybe.
The reason global warming is a threat is that the change will happen fast. A decade or two is not enough time to adapt and shift TSD points etc. maybe. In the past you might have had say 1000 years at least to deal with a gradual temp shift.
Imagine 85 is the TSD point where sexes switch. What that really is is the population average. Individual females vary. Some might have 84, 86 ,etc. So there is variability which can allow a population to deal with climate change as long as there's enough time .
The reason global warming is a threat is that the change will happen fast. A decade or two is not enough time to adapt and shift TSD points etc. maybe. In the past you might have had say 1000 years at least to deal with a gradual temp shift.
Imagine 85 is the TSD point where sexes switch. What that really is is the population average. Individual females vary. Some might have 84, 86 ,etc. So there is variability which can allow a population to deal with climate change as long as there's enough time .
O
okapi
Guest
Very true. That would be why "temp sexing" can be wrong. I would expect them to be able to adapt to global warming though. The females seek out the right temps, which could just be another inch deeper in the soil, or at the base of an outcrop in a hilly area that isnt exposed to the sun for as long as a flat area of land. Yes there will have to be change, but I feel that they will have time to cope with it at the rate that the climate is changing at this point in time.
temp sexed lizards might be able to adapt fast enough to deal with climate change.
but many reptiles are unable to cope with all the problems. poison, habitat destruction, exotic species, etc.
Reptiles join amphibians in mysterious decline
The catastrophic declines in frog and salamander populations in recent years may be even more widespread than had been feared – and the devastation seems to extend to reptiles.
i bet fatties have a way reduced range.
but many reptiles are unable to cope with all the problems. poison, habitat destruction, exotic species, etc.
Reptiles join amphibians in mysterious decline
The catastrophic declines in frog and salamander populations in recent years may be even more widespread than had been feared – and the devastation seems to extend to reptiles.
i bet fatties have a way reduced range.
Last edited:
G
Gecko
Guest
Not to my knowledge (except where development is directly responsible), but they have never been common to find.
Ghana (spelling?) and Togo is where you'd want to look at lists of possible gecko eating preditors if your looking at lists BTW.
Ghana (spelling?) and Togo is where you'd want to look at lists of possible gecko eating preditors if your looking at lists BTW.
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