Thanks Richard. I've heard about the weight gain... you say due to water uptake... as in the snake consuming water during the brumation period, but not evacuating it?

My interest is in lizards, but since snakes are just specialized lizards (evolutionarily) much information about them can probably be used to understand lizards as well. I'm interested in how the metabolisms change... it seems easier to find info about the maximum metabolic rates of lizards (e.g. how hot can we make this lizard before it gets damaged) but not as much about the physiological changes that take place during brumation. I am saying this only from an armchair-research point of view. I suspect that if I undertook *actual* research at the University library that I'd find plenty of info!

Thanks so much for your input!!
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Lisa Rakestraw
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My skinks:
1.1.1 Corucia zebrata (Berman and Joni, baby Charlemagne)
2.2.2 Eumeces schneideri (Jack and Mabel; Kaa and Cochisa their babies)
0.0.4 Egernia striolata

Hubby's snakes:
1.0 Bogertophis subocularis (Humphrey)
0.1 Lampropeltis alterna (Sandy)

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