Thermoregulatory Adaptations and Heat Energy Budget Analyses of the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis

Abstract

Alligators on land are strongly influenced by radiation. There are quantitative and qualitative differences in heat transfer between the environment and large and small alligators. Conduction and convection are more important to small alligators. Body size is an important factor in determining behavioral and physiological thermoregulatory strategies of alligators. Metabolic heat production is unimportant in the overall heat energy budget of alligators. Evaporative cooling is not of importance in overall heat balance of alligators. The heat energy budget model proved to be a good predictor of steady state body temperature of alligators.