ABSTRACT
Environmental temperature is a determining factor in the physiological and behavioral processes of amphibians because they are ectotherms and consequently depend on external heat sources to achieve optimal body temperatures. The aim of this study was to determine the thermal dependence of the Colombian endemic salamander Bolitoglossa ramosi Brame & Wake, 1972 with respect to the air and substrate temperatures. Field samples were carried out in the municipality of Líbano, Tolima, Colombia, between 18:00 and 24:00 hours, in April and May 2015. 34 individuals were captured and for each salamander it was recorded: the body temperature, body mass and body length. The substrate and air temperatures were also measured in the place where the animals were found. Body temperature of the individuals had a mean of 18.3±0.55°C, showing a positive and significant relationship to the substrate and air temperatures, which demonstrates that the species is thermoconformer. Furthermore, the body temperature showed a higher thermal dependence on the substrate than the air temperature indicating that B. ramosi presents a tigmothermal regulation. Finally, the body temperature was not related to body length or body mass. This information is useful for understanding the thermal biology of the species and the possible physiological responses to the increase in environmental temperatures.
Keywords
Amphibian; conservation; ectotherms; physiology; thermal biology
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