Abstract
The Burmese python has a remarkable digestive physiology with large elevations of metabolic rate and heart rate following feeding. Here, we describe the relationship between heart rate, oxygen consumption, and core body temperature during digestion in five pythons (Python bivittatus) by implantation of data loggers. The snakes were placed in respirometers at 30±0.1°C for 26 days and voluntarily ingested three meals of different size, whilst heart rate, core body temperature, and oxygen consumption rates were measured continuously. Both oxygen consumption and heart rate increased several-fold during digestion, and metabolic heat production increased core body temperature by 2°C, explaining 12% of the observed tachycardia. The rise in core body temperature means that standard metabolic rate increased during digestion, and we estimate that failure to account for core body temperature leads to a 4% overestimation of the SDA response. Our study reveals a close correlation between oxygen consumption and heart rate during digestion, further supporting the use of heart rate as a proxy for metabolism.
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