Posted by:
jobi
at Tue Aug 15 22:41:02 2006 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by jobi ]
Have you noticed how they like to sleep on the highest branch or leaves? Been thinking about this for a while now, and even tested this behaviour with an 8ft high cage, it seems that regardless of height, they will try to get to the highest point to sleep at night.
On this photo you have a baby capra and a gonocephalus of about the same age, the gonos are very shy and spend the day in hiding, you really have to look for them daytime. On the other hand the capras are all over and don’t seem to mind my presence, however I have not seen them basking on leaves except at night, both these species have similar sleeping habits. I believe this behaviour may serve two purposes, first avoiding predation and second thermoregulation from morning sun.
From temperature readings I have personally took in full sun, basking lizards on leaves have very little risk of over heating, leaves do not accumulate heat and radiate as they have reflective properties and are cooled on both sides by the wind. Sun baked branches of even 1.5-2inches in diameter can reach 120f and more in a very short time.
In my care the babies soon learn to sleep on the bulb side, this even though they are provided with similar sleeping on the other side of the cage.
I have to ask this! Seems to me that anything other then the basic questions we see on this forum attracts very little attention, lately I have posted many interesting observations that where simply ignored, why? I am puzzled, aren’t you guys passionate enough to want to know more? Hec I wake up every morning wanting to know more! This quest for knowledge allows me to see and better understand things I missed the day before, aren’t you guys the same way?
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