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How do tuatara stay active in cool temperatures?
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tuatara
The species is the sole living member of the reptile order Rhynchocephalia.
The tuatara is unique among reptiles for its ability to remain active at low body temperatures. While most reptiles require higher temperatures for optimal function, tuatara typically maintain internal temperatures between 18–19 °C (64–66 °F) and can remain active even when their body temperature drops as low as 13–14 °C (55–57 °F).1
To manage these cool conditions, tuatara employ a combination of strategies:
- Basking: They regularly bask in the sun during daylight hours at the mouths of their burrows to elevate their body temperatures.1
- Behavioral Adaptation: Because they are ectothermic, they rely on their environment to regulate heat. Their nocturnal activity and life within burrow systems expose them to cooler temperatures where active thermoregulation is not possible.1
- Metabolic Efficiency: Their ability to function at low temperatures is a specialized adaptation. Furthermore, their reduced activity levels in the cold may serve as an adaptation to minimize water loss.1
While they are capable of these feats, their body temperatures still fluctuate by 3–4 °C (5–7 °F) throughout their daily activity cycle.1