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Science 4 August 1972:
Vol. 177. no. 4047, pp. 431 - 433
DOI: 10.1126/science.177.4047.431
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Articles

Brain and Body Temperatures in a Panting Lizard

Eugene C. Crawford Jr. 1

1 School of Biological Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506

Panting in Sauromalus obesus is effective enough to keep deep body temperature (TC) and brain temperature (TB) below an ambient temperature of 45°C for extended periods of time and has a greater cooling effect on the brain than on the remainder of the body. Six animals maintained TC and TB 0.9°C (± 0.08 standard error) and 2.7°C (± 0.2 standard error) respectively lower than the ambient temperature of 45°C. It is possible that intracranial vascular shunts play a role in cranial cooling during panting.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)