Properties of reptilian blood. II. The gila monster (heloderma suspectum cope)
✍ Scribed by Edwards, H. T. ;Dill, D. B.
- Publisher
- Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
- Year
- 1935
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 647 KB
- Volume
- 6
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0095-9898
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
FIVE FIQURES
I n the first paper of this series the blood of the crocodile was described : its blood and in particular its hemoglobin were found to have distinctive properties (Dill and Edwards, '31). Since then specimens of blood from three other reptiles have been investigated. Particular attention has been paid to the effects of temperature changes on the properties of the blood both in vitro and in vivo.
The gila monster lives in an environment as notable for its variability as is that of the crocodile for its uniformity. The tropical waters inhabited by Crocodilus acutus vary in temperature no more than a few degrees throughout the year.l On the other hand, the desert floor of the Southwest has an annual temperature range from below freezing to above 45°C.
While the extremes of temperature may be avoided by hibernation in the winter and by remaining in burrows in the summer midday, a great adaptability is nevertheless essentiaL2
We are indebted to R. Z. Kirkpatrick, of the Panama Canal, Department of Operation and Maintenance, for data regarding the surface temperature of Gatun Lake where the crocodiles studied were obtained. The mean monthly temperatures during that year (1930) ranged from 28.3 in January to 30.1 in June.
'Desert reptiles are not immune to the high temperatures of the summer midday. During 1932, a dealer in desert curios near Boulder City had in captivity in shaded cages several species of reptiles. These were supplied with water and food, but during the first prolonged hot weather most of them died, including gila monsters, chuckwallas and rattlesnakes. It is also noted by Woodbury ( '31) that a rattlesnake left in a net in the sun died within a half hour. On the other hand, Thomas ('32) remarks that one species of lizard delights t o sit in the Arabian sun.
are indebted to Dr. E. M. MacKay, of the Scripps Metabolic Clinic, for arranging with a San Diego collector for the supply of these specimens.