The Naked Scientists
  • Login
  • Register
  • Podcasts
      • The Naked Scientists
      • eLife
      • Naked Genetics
      • Naked Astronomy
      • In short
      • Naked Neuroscience
      • Ask! The Naked Scientists
      • Question of the Week
      • Archive
      • Video
      • SUBSCRIBE to our Podcasts
  • Articles
      • Science News
      • Features
      • Interviews
      • Answers to Science Questions
  • Get Naked
      • Donate
      • Do an Experiment
      • Science Forum
      • Ask a Question
  • About
      • Meet the team
      • Our Sponsors
      • Site Map
      • Contact us

User menu

  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Help
  • Search
  • Tags
  • Member Map
  • Recent Topics
  • Login
  • Register
  1. Naked Science Forum
  2. General Science
  3. General Science
  4. Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« previous next »
  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?

  • 7 Replies
  • 10742 Views
  • 0 Tags

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Bass (OP)

  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ******
  • 1390
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 18 times
    • View Profile
Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« 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?
« Last Edit: 06/10/2020 07:02:35 by chris »
Logged
Old enough to have grandsons
Slow enough to study rocks
Thirsty enough to build a pub
 



another_someone

  • Guest
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #1 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.
Logged
 

Offline JimBob

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 6543
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 8 times
  • Moderator
    • View Profile
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #2 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.
Logged
The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein
 

Offline Monox D. I-Fly

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 446
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 7 times
    • View Profile
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #3 on: 05/10/2020 08:11:46 »
Probably Tsuchinoko is just a fat snake.
Logged
 

Offline Kryptid

  • Global Moderator
  • Naked Science Forum King!
  • ********
  • 7122
  • Activity:
    13.5%
  • Thanked: 406 times
    • View Profile
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #4 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.
Logged
 



Offline Monox D. I-Fly

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • 446
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Thanked: 7 times
    • View Profile
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #5 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?
Logged
 

Offline science12

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 11
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #6 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
Logged
Aberglaube ist keine Wissenschaft.

Deutsches Sprichwort
 

Offline mikahawkins

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • 10
  • Activity:
    0%
  • Naked Science Forum Newbie
    • View Profile
Re: Fat lizard: can reptiles become obese?
« Reply #7 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.
Logged
 



  • Print
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
Tags:
 

Similar topics (5)

Can selective breeding for insects and reptiles make better pets?

Started by KryptidBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 5
Views: 11398
Last post 16/02/2009 19:11:44
by Madidus_Scientia
Temp-dependent sex determination in reptiles - whole generations the same sex?

Started by amplexityBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 5
Views: 4888
Last post 18/08/2012 01:06:27
by CliffordK
why Don't Reptiles Have Sticky-Outy Ears ?

Started by neilepBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 12
Views: 11517
Last post 28/08/2008 08:18:11
by Don_1
Why do reptiles have a physiological vascular shunt?

Started by cheryl jBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 1
Views: 8381
Last post 06/10/2013 02:12:07
by CliffordK
Which are stronger by mass, mammals, or reptiles?

Started by GenesisBoard Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution

Replies: 5
Views: 8012
Last post 13/10/2020 04:48:44
by Monox D. I-Fly
There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
  • SMF 2.0.15 | SMF © 2017, Simple Machines
    Privacy Policy
    SMFAds for Free Forums
  • Naked Science Forum ©

Page created in 0.122 seconds with 51 queries.

  • Podcasts
  • Articles
  • Get Naked
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Subscribe to newsletter
  • We love feedback

Follow us

cambridge_logo_footer.png

©The Naked Scientists® 2000–2017 | The Naked Scientists® and Naked Science® are registered trademarks created by Dr Chris Smith. Information presented on this website is the opinion of the individual contributors and does not reflect the general views of the administrators, editors, moderators, sponsors, Cambridge University or the public at large.