Correct Orientation of a Hand-held Infrared Thermometer is Important for Accurate Measurement of Body Temperatures in Small Lizards and Tuatara

摘要

Measurement of cloacal temperature using a thermocouple (TC) is a standard and long-established method for determining body temperature (Tb) in reptiles. There are some disadvantages, however, to this method. The animal must first be captured and handled, and the thermocouple must be inserted into the cloaca; such manipulations potentially raise the animal's breathing rate (Langkilde and Shine 2006) and, if prolonged, could initiate a stress response involving elevated plasma corticosterone (e.g., Moore et al. 1991). Furthermore, the animal's retreat to a different microenvironment when chased, and/or its subsequent handling, potentially result in an unrepresentative measurement of Tb. An experienced researcher is able to minimize these outcomes in most cases; however, alternative non-invasive methods are desirable.