Abstract
Behavioral thermoregulation in laboratory thermal gradients was studied in seven species of Australian snakes of the Elapidae: Acanthophis antarcticus, Austrelaps superbus, Notechis scutatus, Pseudechis porphyriacus, Pseudonaja nuchalis, P. textilis and Unechis flagellum. All species exhibited well-developed thermoregulatory behavior and controlled body temperatures with precision comparable to that reported for various heliothermic lizards. Temperature regulation is accomplished by shuttling and by adjustments in the snake's position or orientation while basking. Thermal preferenda of the various species range roughly between 30 and 35 C and are similar to those of other terrestrial, Temperate Zone snakes in which thermal preferences have been adequately assessed. Thermal preferenda of adult snakes appear to be higher than those of newborn or juveniles (in four species) and may vary with levels of critical thermal minima (in five species) and geographic distribution.
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