What primary need mandates that whiptails favor open areas or edges of vegetation?
Answer
They are overwhelmingly heliothermic.
Whiptails are described as overwhelmingly heliothermic, a biological trait meaning they are dependent on external sun exposure to regulate their internal body temperature. This physiological requirement directly dictates where they are found; the best locations for activity and foraging are typically open areas or the edges of thicker vegetation where sunlight penetrates consistently throughout their peak activity hours. When temperatures climb dramatically, this need shifts their activity location to shaded microclimates, but the initial requirement for solar energy remains paramount.
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