Lower temperature tolerance in the temperate, ambush foraging lizard Pseudocordylus melanotus melanotus

1.An organism's thermal tolerance to the environment may indicate a thermal limit to its geographical distribution.2.We measured the lower critical minimum (CTMin) and lower lethal temperature in the lizard Pseudocordylus melanotus melanotus.3.CTMin was 10.17±0.48 °C and the lower lethal temperature was −5.15±0.31 °C.4.All lizards that froze did not survive. This suggests that these lizards are restricted to areas where the microclimate allows them to avoid freezing.5.Pseudocordylus m. melanotus can allow their body temperatures to drop well below CTMin without any ill effect.