Microlophus atacamensis explained

Microlophus atacamensis, the Atacamen Pacific iguana, is a species of lava lizard that is endemic to Chile.

Behavioral and ecology

Survival characteristics, such as thermoregulation and migration, are purely based on behavior for Microlophus atacamensis. Being an omnivorous creature, it has the choice to eat both plants and animals that inhabit northern Chile. Depending on the specific population of Microlophus atacamensis, it can reside in the most northern region of northern Chile and depend more on algae for its diet instead of Diptera (fruit flies), as they would in most of the southern region of northern Chile. They abundantly occupy a large coastal area, and can be easily sampled^[1]

Thermoregulation levels also suggest behavioral patterns since M. atacamensis not only bask in the sun to retain heat, but they also change their body shape or orientate their body plane perpendicular to the sun. Hence proving that M. atacamensis can make behavioral adjustments to increase heating rates.^{[2] [3]}

Notes and References

1. Marambio-Alfaro. Yery. Valdés Saavedra. Jorge A. Ñacari Enciso. Luis. López Marras. Américo. Serrano. Antonio E.. Martínez Peláez. Rodrigo.. Castillo Bruna. Alexis. Álvarez Ávalos. Gabriel. Vial Maldonado. Marcela. amp . 15 January 2021. Microlophus atacamensis as a biomonitor of coastal contamination in the Atacama Desert, Chile: An evaluation through a non-lethal technique. Environmental Pollution. 269. 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115739.
2. Ibáñez. Soledad. Vidal. Marcela A. Ortiz. Juan Carlos. Torres-Pérez. Fernando . amp . 2 February 2015. Geometric morphometric analysis of the head of Microlophus atacamensis (Tropiduridae) in a latitudinal gradient. Zoological Studies. 54. e24. 10.1186/s40555-014-0099-y. 6661439. 31966111 . free .
3. Sepúlveda. Maritza. Vidal. Marcela A.. Fariña. José M.. Sabat. Pablo . amp . April 2008. Seasonal and geographic variation in thermal biology of the lizard Microlophus atacamensis (Squamata: Tropiduridae). Journal of Thermal Biology. 33. 3. 141–148. 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2007.07.002.