Hotter deserts and the impending challenges for the spiny-tailed lizard in India

Ectotherms are particularly vulnerable to climate change, especially those living in extreme areas, such as deserts, where species are already thermally constrained. Using the vulnerable herbivorous lizard, Saara hardwickii, as a model system, we used a multi-pronged approach to understand the thermal ecology of a desert agamid and the potential impacts of rising temperatures. Our data included field-based measures of operative temperatures, body temperatures, and activity, as well as lab-based measures of thermal limits, preferences, and sprint speed. As expected, the temperature dependence of locomotor performance and foraging activity was different, and in the worst-case global warming scenario (SSP5-8.5), potential sprint speed may decrease by up to 14.5% and foraging activity may decrease by up to 43.5% by 2099. Burrows are essential thermal refuges, and global warming projections suggest that S. hardwickii may be restricted to burrows for up to 9 hours per day by 2099, which would..., Detailed data collection methodology has been provided in the manuscript., , # Hotter deserts and the impending challenges for the spiny-tailed lizard in India

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x95x69psd](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.x95x69psd)

This dataset encompasses all the data utilized for analysis within the manuscript.

## Description of the data and file structure

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Field body temperature

This datafile contains the data collected from thermal loggers on lizards from 15 March 2021 to 23 May 2021.

\* Lizard_ID: Identifies individual lizards

\* Date: It refers to the date on which the data was collected using the logger

\* Time: It refers to the time on which the data was collected using the logger

\* SVL: Snout-Vent length of the lizard in cms

\* Mass: Mass of the lizard in grams

\* Sex: Male or Female

\* Site: The name of the either of the two sites used for data collection

\* BCI: Body Condition Inde...