Shine 2005

Shine R. 2005. Life-history evolution in reptiles. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution and Systematics 36: 23-46.

This author reviews the diversity of life-history traits in reptiles, focusing on how the ablity of reptiles to behaviourally regulate body temperature combined with their freedom from heat-flow and energy-conserving constraints have shaped reptile evolution.

Large body size, dessication resistance, terrestrial living, and ectothermy allow reptiles to respond to a broad range of environmental variables (especially climate related) at multiple time scales. Changes to clutch size, offspring size, offspring growth rate, body size, body shape, hunting style, fat storage, dietary specialization, and many other traits can be driven rapidly by climate factors in reptiles.