Body Temperatures of Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis at the Den Site

1975 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Tom Vincent
Keyword(s):  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis

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.

Pheromonal Mediation of Intraseasonal Declines in the Attractivity of Female Red-Sided Garter Snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

2012 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily J. Uhrig ◽  
Deborah I. Lutterschmidt ◽  
Robert T. Mason ◽  
Michael P. LeMaster
Keyword(s):  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Garter Snakes ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis

Regulation of Seasonal Mating Behavior in Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

Copeia ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 1974 (3) ◽  
pp. 681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Aleksiuk ◽  
Patrick T. Gregory
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis ◽  
Thamnophis Sirtalis Parietalis
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