Tom,
I looked back at some of my field data files and all of the field reports of diamonds on eggs have shown them to be shivering while on the egg mass. They apparently don't have the physiological ability to maintain the consistent high temps day and night in their cooler climate as the molurus group is capable of. Coil measurements show peak temps about early evening, with egg mass temps falling by morning. Diamonds are apparently only able to hold the temps up to 89 or 90 during the day and early evening when the energy drain on them is lower with the higher daytime ambient temps. It's probably too much of an energy loss on the female to try and maintain temps in the very late evening and early morning while ambient is at the lowest point. She therefore saves energy by not trying to keep the temp up during these cooler hours. The embryos have obviously adapted to this cycling as it would kill molurus eggs.

Jungles must be like blood pythons. I have seen some on eggs that shiver, and some that don't.

Kelly

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