Abstract
Comparisons of body temperatures among five species of Japanese snakes revealed that they are divided into three groups based on mean body temperatures, namely high, intermediate, and low ones. On the other hand, from range of body temperatures, they are divided into two groups, i. e., wide and narrow ones. Elaphe quadrivirgata has body temperatures with a high mean and a wide range, while Rhabdophis tigrinus has intermediate mean body temperatures with a wide range. These two species with wide temperature ranges are active from late March to early December. Elaphe climacophora has intermediate mean body temperatures with a narrow range, and is active in rather mild weather from late March to late November. Amphiesma vibakari and Elaphe conspicillata have low mean body temperatures with narrow ranges, and are active mostly in spring and in autumn, and never appear in the daytime during the summer months.
