Effects of temperature on resting metabolism of two species of juvenile nocturnal geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus and Ptyodactylus hasselquistii (Reptilia: Gekkonidae) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

1. 1. The resting metabolic rates of two species of juvenile geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus and Ptyodactylus hasselquistii, were determined at different temperatures from 20 to 35°C, using constant pressure manometric respirometers. 2. 2. The metabolic rate-temperature curves for both species were similar in shape. 3. 3. The resting metabolic rate of each species increased significantly with temperatures between 25 and 35°C. 4. 4. Elevated resting metabolic rate at 20°C and a low Q 10 at 20–25°C in these two species, were correlated with their thennoregulatory behaviour and ecology.