Embrapa Pantanal, CP 109, Corumbá, MS 79320-900, Brazil.
J Therm Biol. 2013 Jan;38(1):20-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2012.09.004. Epub 2012 Oct 18.
Body temperatures of 13 Paleosuchus palpebrosus, 7 males and 6 females, were monitored by radio-telemetry during cold periods (dry season) and warm periods (wet and dry seasons) in a stream draining into the Brazilian Pantanal. The mass of the caimans varied from 2.5 to 20.0kg, and snout-vent length from 47.5 to 95.0cm. Mean monthly body temperature was 21.6°C, and varied from 20.1 to 25.6°C throughout the year. Body temperature was correlated with air and water temperature but did not differ between males and females. Unlike all other crocodilians investigated in detail to date, the caimans did not show evidence of attempts to obtain higher body temperatures when ambient temperatures were low, and had low and generally constant temperatures in relation to the surrounding air and water throughout the year. The caimans remained in burrows during cold periods in the dry season, which may explain why they did not seek higher temperatures. Tolerance of relatively low and constant body temperatures may be a key adaptation of species of Paleosuchus, allowing them to occupy environments inhospitable to other crocodilians.
通过无线电遥测技术，对生活在流入巴西潘塔纳尔湿地的溪流中的 13 条美洲鳄的体温进行了监测，这些个体中有 7 条雄性和 6 条雌性，在寒冷时期（旱季）和温暖时期（湿季和旱季）进行了监测。这些短吻鳄的体重从 2.5 到 20.0 公斤不等，吻至尾端的长度从 47.5 到 95.0 厘米不等。平均每月的体温为 21.6°C，全年的体温范围从 20.1 到 25.6°C。体温与空气和水温相关，但雌雄个体之间没有差异。与迄今为止详细研究过的所有其他鳄鱼不同，这些短吻鳄在环境温度较低时并没有表现出试图获得更高体温的迹象，并且在一年中的大部分时间里，它们的体温都较低且相对稳定，与周围的空气和水温度相当。在旱季的寒冷时期，短吻鳄会留在洞穴中，这可能解释了它们为什么不寻求更高的体温。相对较低且稳定的体温可能是 Paleosuchus 物种的一个关键适应特征，使它们能够占据对其他鳄鱼不友好的环境。
