1: Phrynosoma asio.
simulated After overnight "dew" by an ultrasonic atomizer with 1 operating hours in the morning between 4 und 5 clock, could I at P. asio determine weight gain of 0.15 to 0.2 g against the weight of the previous evening . Feed intake between weighings was not possible. Striking was the significant increase in color intensity and contrast, when the lizards morning came from the sand. The sand was on evening was dry and through the atomizer while dark, shiny but not wet. The atomization causes a direct increase in air humidity and be distributed through fine bubbles precipitation on an oval of about 15 cm wide and 35 cm length. Animals were buried in this area showed that weight gain, animals outside showed no measurable increase . If the lizards in the morning onset of warming durch die Spots aus dem Sand herauskamen, war der Sand wieder trocken.
Bild 2: Phrynosoma asio vergraben.
Die Aufnahme kann eigentlich nur durch die Haut erfolgt sein. Wenn eine Wasseraufnahme durch die als wasserundurchlässig geltende Reptilhaut möglich is, this requires a type of active transport. For example, the pin tails has long been suspected (eg HPStettler, Handbook of Herpetoculture) without the transport mechanism and the consequences will be discussed for the operation of "desert terrarium" . Dew in arid areas near the food, the only regular source of water and it's probably not surprising that it adjustments are to use them.
Figure 3: Ultraschallzerstäuber, Tröpfchengrösse approx. 2 0 mu .
The daily weight loss is slightly lower, one can assume that it largely through breathing and the associated loss of moisture occurs . Next year I will investigate this phenomenon more closely. The lizards are now on Hibernation and some remain buried during the day already. If this mechanism of confirm water absorption and long-term evidence, one would have to consider when operating a desert terrarium the night dew as a natural source of water for plants and animals.
4: weighing.
