Thermal ecophysiology of Basiliscus galeritus (Squamata: Corytophanidae) in two populations at different altitudes: Does the crest participate actively in thermoregulation?

Thermoregulation is a critical process for ectotherms as non-avian reptiles, since their vital physiological processes depend on it. These organisms have a temperature range where their physiological processes are more efficient, this range is usually a requirement set phylogenetically even though they vary in the use of habitats. This research compares the thermal ecophysiology of Basiliscus galeritus (western basilisk) in two populations with altitudinal differences in the northwestern of Ecuador.