Abstract
Temperatures of body (oesophageal) and surrounding environment of 1434 Elaphe quadrivirgata were measured in the fields between May 1958 and October 1969. From these data the following became clear. Body temperature (BT)is 28.7°C on the average, and has a correlation more close to substratum temperature (ST) than to air temperature (AT). Mean BT, 25.4°C in March, gradually increases toward August (31.7°C) and then decreases in December (21.4°C). Monthly mean BTs are almost constant from June (30.7°C) through September (30.7°C), except in August when the mean is slightly higher than in other months. Monthly maximum BTs are similar from April (35.6°C) throughout October (34.4°C). Mean BT of females (29.2°C) is slightly higher than that of males (28.2°C). There is a significant difference in BT between snakes with prey (29.2°C) and without prey (28.6°C) in their stomachs. From the relationship between ST-AT and BT-ST, thermoregulation of snakes is discussed.
