Literaturdatenbank
Literaturdatenbank |
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Loehr, V. J. T. (2012). Activity of the greater padloper, homopus femoralis (testudinidae), in relation to rainfall. African Zoology, 42(7), 294–300.
Added by: Admin (06 Jan 2014 18:24:50 UTC) |
| Resource type: Journal Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3377/004.047.0212 BibTeX citation key: anon2012.15346 View all bibliographic details  |
Categories: General Keywords: Habitat - habitat, Homopus femoralis, Schildkröten - turtles + tortoises, Südafrika - Southern Africa, Testudinidae Creators: Loehr Collection: African Zoology |
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| Abstract |
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Testudinidae The greater padloper, Homopus femoralis, is largely endemic to South Africa. Its ecology remains unstudied, yet the efficient planning of field research is complicated by lack of data on its activity patterns. I studied a population in spring, summer and autumn 2008–2011, and found that H. femoralis was active (i.e. basking, drinking, feeding or walking) only during brief intervals following rainfall or imminent rain, perhaps to avoid avian predators or physiological costs of water and food shortages. Future studies might locate active tortoises in the highest rainfall months, and use telemetry to identify activity patterns throughout the year.
Added by: Admin |