Water and energy turnover in a small monitor Lizard, Varanus Acanthurus

The field metabolic rates and water influxes of Varanus acanthurus were determined by means of doubly-labelled water during late spring. The mean metabolic rate was 0-101 ±0-032 mL CO₂ g^-1 h^-1, which was equivalent to an energy expenditure of 63 kJ kg^-1 day“¹ and a fresh food consumption rate of 13-2 g kg“¹ day“¹. The mean rate of water influx was 15• 9±6• 8 mL kg“¹ day“¹ and it is suggested that up to 30% of water influxes are via pulmo-cutaneous exchange and drinking. It is considered that V. acanthurus is a secretive ‘sit and wait’ predator and that this accounts for the lower than predicted water influx and metabolic rates of this species.