Acid-Base Status Of Blood Of Varanus Griseus And Uromastyx Aegyptius

Abstract

1) A comparative study was carried out on the acid-base status of blood collected from five main blood vessels of two desert lizards, the monitor, Varanus griseus, and the dabb, Uromastyx aegyptius. 2) Blood of the monitor is somewhat more alkaline than that of the dabb. 3) Blood collected from the right systemic arches or from the dorsal aortae of both lizards has less acidic values than that from postcaval veins or pulmonary arches. 4) The study of the effect of low and high temperatures on the acid-base status revealed that pH values, as well as bicarbonate concentrations, differed slightly in both lizards with temperature change.