Comparison of Body Temperatures across Physiological States in Syntopic Snake Species (Thamnophis sirtalis and Nerodia sipedon) from Pennsylvania

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 749
Author(s):  
Daniel F. Hughes ◽  
Pablo R. Delis ◽  
Walter E. Meshaka
Keyword(s):  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Nerodia Sipedon ◽  
Snake Species

Host specificity among the helminth parasites of four species of snakes

1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 929-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred E. Rau ◽  
David M. Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Host Specificity ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Nerodia Sipedon ◽  
Snake Species

The helminth parasites of 141 snakes were collected. The nematode Rhabdias fuscovenosa was found in all snake species except Nerodia sipedon, whereas Cosmocercoides dukae was restricted to Storeria dekayi. The trematodes Zeugorchis aequatus and Lechriorchis primus occurred only in Thamnophis sirtalis, whereas Dasymetra nicolli infected only N. sipedon. Pneumatophilus variabilis primarily parasitized N. sipedon but was occasionally found in T. sirtalis. Mesocercariae of Alaria sp. were found in all species except S. dekayi. The cestodes Ophiotaenia sp. and Cylindrotaenia sp. were found in N. sipedon and T. sirtalis, respectively.

Habitat use in basking Northern water (Nerodia sipedon) and Eastern garter (Thamnophis sirtalis) snakes in urban New Jersey

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Burger ◽  
Christian Jeitner ◽  
Heather Jensen ◽  
Megan Fitzgerald ◽  
Stacey Carlucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Nerodia Sipedon

scholarly journals Staying warm is not always the norm: Behavioural differences in thermoregulation of two snake species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danilo Giacometti ◽  
Katharine Yagi ◽  
Curtis R Abney ◽  
Matthew P Jung ◽  
Glenn Jeffery Tattersall
Keyword(s):  
Life Histories ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Temperature Sensitive ◽  
Thermal Biology ◽  
Snake Species ◽  
Active Nature ◽  
Thermal Preferences ◽  
Insight Into

Thermal biology research compares field with laboratory data to elucidate the evolution of temperature-sensitive traits in ectotherms. The hidden challenge of many of these studies is discerning whether animals actively thermoregulate, since motivation is not typically assessed. By studying behaviours involved in thermoregulation, we can better understand the mechanisms behind body temperature control. Using an integrative approach, we assess thermoregulatory and thermotactic behaviours of two sympatric snake species with contrasting life histories, the generalist Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and the semi-fossorial Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata (Storer, 1839). We expected that thermoregulatory behaviours would be optimised based on life history, in that T. s. sirtalis would show higher evidence for thermally-oriented behaviours than S. o. occipitomaculata due to its active nature. Thamnophis s. sirtalis actively thermoregulated, had higher thermal preferences (29.4 ± 2.5 vs. 25.3 ± 3.6°C), and was more active than S. o. occipitomaculata, which showed relatively low evidence for thermotaxis. Our results build on the notion that evaluating movement patterns and rostral orientation towards a heat-source can help ascertain whether animals make thermally-motivated choices. Our data give insight into the thermoregulatory strategies used by snakes with different life histories, and maximise the information provided by behavioural thermoregulation experiments.

The Harderian gland of two species of snakes: Pseudonaja textilis (Elapidae) and Thamnophis sirtalis (Colubridae)

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-363 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J Rehorek ◽  
Mimi Halpern ◽  
Bruce T Firth ◽  
Mark N Hutchinson
Keyword(s):  
Gross Anatomy ◽  
Vomeronasal Organ ◽  
Harderian Gland ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Nasolacrimal Duct ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Mucous Cells ◽  
Vomeronasal System ◽  
Snake Species ◽  
Harderian Glands

The reptilian Harderian gland is a poorly understood cephalic structure. Despite the recent assertion that in snakes it may function as part of the vomeronasal system, the Harderian gland has been described in few snake species. In this study we examined the gross anatomy, histology, and ultrastructure of the Harderian gland of two different advanced snake species (Colubroidea): Pseudonaja textilis (Elapidae) and Thamnophis sirtalis (Colubridae). In both species the Harderian gland is a large serous gland whose secretions pass directly into the vomeronasal organ via the nasolacrimal duct. Contrary to previous publications, the Harderian gland in both species studied possesses a specific duct system lined by mucous cells. However, the Harderian glands of these two species differ in shape, the histochemical nature of these mucous secretions, and the ultrastructure of the serous granules. In conclusion, though the Harderian glands of snakes are remarkably conserved morphologically, there is some interspecific variation.

scholarly journals Northern Snakes Appear Much More Abundant in Old Fields than in Forests

2018 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 228-234
Author(s):  
Francisco Retamal Diaz ◽  
Gabriel Blouin-Demers
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Thermal Conditions ◽  
Strong Preference ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Old Fields ◽  
Behavioural Thermoregulation ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Thermal Constraints ◽  
Northern Latitudes

Temperature is one of the most important factors regulating habitat selection by ectotherms. Through behavioural thermoregulation, reptiles maintain preferred body temperatures and thereby maximize fitness. At northern latitudes, small colubrids appear to use forest habitat rarely because of thermal constraints. In cool environments, open habitats such as old fields offer more favourable thermal conditions than forest. We studied two northern colubrid snakes, Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata) and Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis), in Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada, to test the hypothesis that small northern snakes are more abundant in open than in closed habitats because open habitats provide better opportunities for thermoregulation. Snakes were sampled using large arrays of tin and plywood coverboards. Snakes were indeed much more abundant in old fields than in forest, and fields offered more favourable thermal conditions. Most snakes were captured in spring and summer (May to August) when temperatures were highest. Storeria occipitomaculata preferred tin over plywood coverboards. We confirmed an apparent strong preference for open habitats in northern snakes.

Minimal overwintering temperatures of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis): a possible cue for emergence?

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 771-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah I. Lutterschmidt ◽  
Michael P. LeMaster ◽  
Robert T. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Ground Temperature ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Winter Dormancy ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis ◽  
Spring Emergence ◽  
Insight Into

Red-sided garter snakes ( Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis (Say in James, 1823)) in Manitoba, Canada, undergo 8 months of continuous winter dormancy prior to spring emergence. As in other ectothermic species, increases in ground temperature may be the cue for emergence from winter dormancy in these populations. To test this hypothesis, we measured body temperatures during winter dormancy by surgically implanting small temperature loggers into 32 female red-sided garter snakes before they entered their native hibernaculum. The following spring, we recaptured seven of the snakes implanted with temperature loggers. Body temperature declined gradually from mid-September (14.7 ± 0.24 °C, mean  ± SE) to early April (1.1 ± 0.16 °C, mean ± SE) during winter dormancy, reaching minimal values approximately 1 month prior to spring emergence. Body temperatures of emerging snakes ranged from 0.5 °C during early spring to 6.3 °C during late spring (3.4 ± 0.84 °C, mean ± SE). These results do not support the hypothesis that an increase in ground temperature (and hence body temperature) is necessary for emergence from winter dormancy. We suggest that critically low temperatures (i.e., 0.5–1 °C) are a Zeitgeber entraining an endogenous circannual cycle that regulates snake emergence. These results offer new insight into the mechanisms regulating seasonal emergence from winter dormancy.

Body temperatures and movements of hibernating snakes (Crotalus and Thamnophis) and thermal gradients of natural hibernacula

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Malcolm Macartney ◽  
Karl W. Larsen ◽  
Patrick T. Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Gradient ◽  
Reference Site ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Garter Snake ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Crotalus Viridis ◽  
Northern Alberta

Although temperate zone snakes spend a large part of each year in hibernation, we know relatively little about their behavior during this part of the annual cycle. We used radiotelemetry to monitor temperatures and movements of hibernating rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) in southern British Columbia and garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) in northern Alberta, and measured thermal profiles inside their hibernacula. A reference site near the garter snake hibernaculum, superficially resembling a winter den but not used by snakes, also was monitored. A thermal gradient (temperature increasing with depth) formed during the winter in the rattlesnake den, but only minimally so in the garter snake den. Differences in thermal profiles were attributed to differences in subsurface geomorphology. The reference site exhibited much greater temperature fluctuation than the den itself, with lethal temperatures prevailing throughout the winter. Therefore, suitable hibernation sites may be limited in some areas despite a superficial appearance of abundance. As ambient temperatures declined during early winter, snakes made lateral movements inside their hibernacula, and exhibited changes in body temperature which we interpreted as movements to warmer (deeper) microsites. Body temperatures recorded during winter ranged between 2 and 7 °C. In early spring the thermal gradient collapsed and the rattlesnake den gradually underwent a uniform increase in temperature. A similar increase in subterranean temperatures occurred in the garter snake den. Temperature change was perhaps a stimulus for emergence in rattlesnakes, but possibly not in garter snakes. The hypothesis that hibernating snakes orient along a seasonally reversing thermal gradient is not unambiguously supported.

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