Basking is behavioral thermoregulation and is common of many snake species. Heat generated by muscular contraction is physiological thermoregulation. However, females of some python species physiologically thermoregulate by going into facultative endothermy and raise the egg mass temperature without using any visible muscular contractions. Retics are the most notable for this type of behavior. That is why it would be critical to rule out this type of behavior with BHP's by monitoring night temps with an incubating female. If she is just using behavioral thermoregulation, the temp of the egg mass will fall slowly throughout the night and will not rise again until she is able to bask in the morning again and radiate the heat back into the egg mass. It is unlikely that a snake with a body mass as small as a BHP would be capable of this type of physiological thermoregulation, but it would be nice to check on it anyway.

Kelly

[ Show Entire Thread ]