Comparative thermal ecology of copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) and cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Comparative thermal ecology parameters of the mexican dusky rattlesnake (Crotalus triseriatus)

Montane habitats exhibit a high degree of thermal heterogeneity, and thus provide considerable thermoregulatory challenges for ectotherms. Comparative analyses provide an opportunity to understand how variation in abiotic factors (e.g., operative temperatures, thermal quality) can affect life history traits within species. We studied the thermal ecology of three populations of the rattlesnake Crotalus triseriatus inhabiting different volcanoes in the central region of Mexico using the Hertz et al. (1993) protocol. The average body temperature of dusky rattlesnakes from the three study sites was 22.4 °C; mean active body temperature was higher in site 2 than in sites 1 and 3, but no differences between females, males and juveniles nor an interaction among site and sex was found. The thermal quality was low in the three sites, particularly in sites 1 and 3. Thermoregulation accuracy statistically differed among populations: individuals from site 2 were more accurate thermoregulating, while individuals from site 1 were the least accurate. Compared to other snakes, dusky rattlesnakes can be considered as a eurythermic species, which can often be active at relatively low body temperatures.