Snake - LA

Thermoregulation in snakes

What are ectotherms and why does thermoregulation take place?

Snakes are often referred to as cold-blooded; a better term to use would be ectotherms. An ectotherm is an organism that relies on external sources of heat to regulate its body temperature (thermoregulation) as it doesn’t have an internal mechanism to do so. Thermoregulation is the ability of an organism to maintain the temperature of its body within fairly strict limits, even when the external temperature is very different.

Behavioural adaptations

These behavioural instincts regulate body temperature within acceptable parameters. As ambient temperature drops, the snake’s metabolism slows to conserve energy. They must rely on their own behaviour to regulate their body temperature.

What happens when it is hot?

When it is hot, snakes tend to move into the shade. They might bury themselves in the sand, seek shade, and find a hollow or some other cool shelter.

What happens when it is too cold?

Snakes seek out heat in many ways for example it could be lying in the sun (basking), or finding a warm place to sit on like a rock to absorb heat which is converted to energy. Snakes often seek out paved roads where they are attracted by the heat from the road surface.

How does thermoregulation affect feeding?

As the body temperature of a snake varies with surrounding conditions, snakes become inactive during very hot seasons and very cold seasons. Snakes may go for several weeks without eating because of frequent periods of inactivity only requiring one meal every several weeks. Therefore it can be concluded that ectotherms require less energy than endotherms. As a result snakes thrive in remote areas like small islands and deserts where food is too scarce to support endotherms.

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