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General Science => General Science => Topic started by: Bass on 28/06/2007 16:17:22

Title: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: Bass on 28/06/2007 16:17:22

I've never seen an obese lizard or snake.  Do reptiles store store fat like mammals?  If not, can adipose enhanced humans learn anything from reptiles concerning weigth management?

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: another_someone on 28/06/2007 16:42:18

Quote from: Bass on 28/06/2007 16:17:22

I've never seen an obese lizard or snake.  Do reptiles store store fat like mammals?  If not, can adipose enhanced humans learn anything from reptiles concerning weigth management?

I am not aware of any pure hunting animal being obese in the wild - herbivores can keep eating, and keep putting on weight, but a carnivorous hunter species, if it is overweight, will not catch its prey, and will quickly lose weight.

OK, polar bears need some fat, and are hunters - but they tend still to be limited in the amount of fat they have to what they need and not more.

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: JimBob on 28/06/2007 23:25:37

Reptiles do retain fat. Lizards tails are the repository for fat reserves. Alligators also have fat in their tails. It is necessary for reptiles to have fat reserves, especially those that live in extreme conditions.

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 05/10/2020 08:11:46

Probably Tsuchinoko is just a fat snake.

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: Kryptid on 05/10/2020 08:25:13

Not a reptile, but I once had a very fat pet toad (Bufo terrestris). She was almost as wide as she was long. I only fed her two crickets a day. Perhaps it was the lack of exercise that caused her to become obese...

So I know from personal experience that amphibians can become fat. I'm pretty sure reptiles can too. You just have to get them to take in more calories than they expend.

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: Monox D. I-Fly on 06/10/2020 03:34:18

Quote from: Kryptid on 05/10/2020 08:25:13

Not a reptile, but I once had a very fat pet toad (Bufo terrestris). She was almost as wide as she was long. I only fed her two crickets a day. Perhaps it was the lack of exercise that caused her to become obese...

But then, how do we train a toad?

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: science12 on 11/10/2020 12:25:16

I would say some of them can, they also have fat depots but I would say it's more seen on reptiles living in captivity than in the outsides. I would say it's because of the different ein movements and food supply. Reptiles in captivity don't have to hunt for something to eat but they are not chased by opponents and maybe sit around more

Title: Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
Post by: mikahawkins on 12/10/2020 06:08:12

I believe an animal specie will retain fat given on two conditions -
1. How much food it can get from its surrounding on a daily basis, if less food is there the it will definitely store fat.
2.  Its own metabolic rates and optimum fat requirement.