What thermal regulation strategy does the Bipes biporus employ given its lack of protective melanin?

It uses positional control, moving its shallow burrows between 2.5 and 15 centimeters deep to manage solar radiation

Because the *Bipes biporus* lacks the high levels of melanin found in many surface-dwelling reptiles, it cannot safely bask in direct sunlight to raise its body temperature; exposure risks damage due to its skin sensitivity. Instead, its thermoregulation is achieved through precise positional control within its burrow system. The lizard manages its temperature by moving vertically within the upper layers of the substrate—generally between 2.5 and 15 centimeters deep. By shifting its position slightly shallower or deeper, it effectively uses the surrounding soil as a thermal blanket, absorbing or avoiding the solar radiation that penetrates the surface layer to maintain optimal physiological function.