Basking Is Not of Thermoregulatory Significance in the "Basking" Freshwater Turtle Emydura signata

1997/08/01 by Ben Manning, B. Jean Manning, Gordon C. Grigg · 1 citation
Environmental Science · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Turtle Biology and Conservation #Amphibian and Reptile Biology #Bat Biology and Ecology Studies

paper · doi:10.2307/1447562

Abstract

We measured body temperatures of free-ranging Brisbane River Turtles, Emydura signata with radiotelemetry. These and other species of freshwater turtle are commonly observed on logs or other elevated sites, a behavior which is usually interpreted as thermoregulatory. However, body temperatures of eight E. signata monitored for more than 112 turtle days in winter, spring, and summer showed a striking thermoconformity with the water and provided no data showing that this species routinely elevates its body temperature above water temperature. The biological significance of basking is obscure in this population of E. signata, and the study highlights the need for direct measurements of body temperature in freeranging individuals of other freshwater turtle species.

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