The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.
ISSN 0268-0130
2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.
985 downloads
pp.181-188
Authors: Javier Martin-v Allejo, Javier Garcia-ferna Dez, Valentin Perez-mellado & Jose Luis Vicente-villardon
Abstract: We studied habitat selection, field body temperatures (TB) and activity cycles in sympatric populations of the lacertid lizards Podarcis muralis and Podarcis hispanica in a mountain area in Central Spain. Different patterns of habitat selection for the two species were found: P. muralis occupies N and NW facing talus sites, while P. hispanica shows a less habitat-specific distribution at the study site. Inter- and intraspecific differences in TBs were found, while thermoregulatory precision analyses showed differences between adult male and female P. muralis. Hypotheses based on activity cycles, habitat selection and basking behaviour are discussed to explain such results in two closely related species.