Thanks for the conversation. First off, nothing against your friend or you. But, hahahahahahahaha we have a huge habit of thinking we know something, which is why I get in fights here. Most think they know something. I on the otherhand, try to NOT know anything. I take data. Most herpers fall into bad habits of success. That is, here is how I find them, so that is how I look. Which is great, but it may not have much to do with the animals. It has something to do with the animals and a lot to do with the herper.
In this case, When I investigate something, I do not do what others tell me. I act like I know nothing and sometimes that is not easy to do. The key is, I investigated, year a round, and in all conditions. WHat I say here are REPORTS of what is observed. Or as with this subject, a behavior that was seen and what conditions supported it.
With behavior, its TRENDS, its not all or nothing. So its not about all do this or that, behavior does not work that way.

On this day, also recorded a 106F and a 103F. So while your friend is ok with his numbers, it does not include all they do. I even recorded a box turtle at 97F hahahahahahahaha that is really odd. The 106f was a neonate right in the middle of the road, so its body temps, had to be at or near that temp. I spend 18 years taking clocacal temps with quick read mercury thermometers. Then compared them to infra-red temp guns and the readings were so very close. The key is indeed body temps. As an adult can come out of the ground and have body temps much lower then ground temps. In the picture above, the ground temps were in the mid 130's. Also the opposite occurs, when the ground temps are cool, its common to record temps a few degrees above those ground temps. I hope this helps and please, I am sure your friend is a great field herper.

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