With some notable exceptions, small ectothermic vertebrates are incapable of endogenously
sustaining a body temperature substantially above ambient temperature. This view was
challenged by our observations of nighttime body temperatures sustained well above
ambient (up to 10° C) during the reproductive season in tegu lizards (~ 2 kg). This led us to
hypothesize that tegus have an enhanced capacity to augment heat production and heat
conservation. Increased metabolic rates and decreased thermal conductance are the same …