SELECTED BODY-TEMPERATURE AND METABOLIC-RATE TEMPERATURE CURVES OF 3 SPECIES OF DESERT SNAKES

Selected body temperature of three different desert snakes belonging t o three families was determined in the laboratory. The species occupy different habitats and become active at different times. Mean selected body temperatures of the three species during day and night were simi lar. All three species exhibited a wide range of temperature selection during day and night, but temperature range selection was wider durin g the activity period of the animals. The metabolic rate-temperature c urves of the three species were determined over the body temperature r ange from 10-35 degrees C. Interspecific differences in levels of rest ing oxygen consumption and in the characteristics of the metabolic rat e-temperature curves were examined in relation to methods of thermoreg ulation and to the ecology of the respective species. (C) 1996 Academi c Press Limited