A dumb weather question...

Well, probably dumb - I couldn't really find a good answer anywhere.

If a weather forecast says the actual temp is, say, 80F, but it 'feels like' 89F, do chameleons and other reptiles experience the temperature as 80F or 89F? Or is the 'feels like' only applied to humans?

I mean, I know that the humidity level has a huge effect on what temperature we actually experience regardless of the actual temp. I just assumed that this difference was due to the way humans cool themselves - evaporative cooling by sweating, which doesn't work so well when the relative humidity is high - and didn't apply to animals that did not sweat or pant. However, I'm not sure that's right. Does anyone know the answer?

I don't know for sure, but your hypothesis is very solid. And just to add to it. If herps can't feel heat enough to realize when they are burning themselves. It would stand to reason that they would also not feel the "feels like temp".

Even better, if they do feel it. There is no need to worry. You are still within their rang of temperature in the wild. Just provide more misting. Some time ago someone posted a weather report for Mady and it showed and average temp in the mid 90s. You just have to realize how much it rains there, keeping the chams and other herps cool. So on hot days just provide lots and lots of mistings.

temperatures given in weather reports are in reference to abient air temperature in the shade, and do not reflect the additional temps that could be accumulated by an object, person, or chameleon, that is directly exposed to the sun. ie; even though the reported temp is 89* the temps that could be absorbed by an objects like a side walk, person, or chameleon, (or for that matter anything with mass) could be significantly higher, for instance blacktop, or concrete, that is why the surface or inside of a car, could be well over a hundred degrees even though its only reported to be 89*, because it continues to absorb the radiant temp of the sun well in excess of the ambient air temp. , in 89* temps the inside of a car could easily exceed 120*, thats not from the surrounding (ambient) air temp , thats from the accumulated radiant temp of the sun . big difference. the only way to know the temps your cham is experiencing is to measure the temps exactly where he is at. or better still, measure his actual body temp with a ir or lazer temp gun

I suppose it depends on why Slowfoot is asking.

Did you look up weather conditions in Madagascar and want to know if your habitat should be 80 or 89 or does it 'feel' like 89 where you are and wonder if it's too hot for your cham?

xanthoman said:

the only way to know the temps your cham is experiencing is to measure the temps exactly where he is at

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I understand how the temperature is measured and why it's important to measure temps at the basking spot But, that's really not what I was asking. I was basically trying to figure out if reptiles experience what we call the 'heat index', which would not be reflected in an actual temperature reading. And, actually, I don't think they do. I think I answered my own question.

It wasn't really a practical question, just curiosity.

No, I dont think they do, I dont think they are capable of 'feeling' anything in that context.
As to temperature, they are whatever the ambient temp of their surroundings (give or take) unless basking ofcourse. This is what Ectothermic means. 'Cold blooded' is a very misleading term.
Enviromental comfort, or lack of, experienced by your lizard wil be expressed in its behaviour i.e. gaping if too hot, health effects, not eating, sulking, and so on.

It wasn't really a practical question, just curiosity.

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If it satiates your curiosity and gets you thinking, it serves a practical purpous...learning! Keep Asking!

No such thing as a dumb question! The best part is, it gets others thinking as well. Keep 'em coming!