Summary
The thermoregulatory significance of a striped-melanic colour polymorphism in the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, was assessed through a combination of labortory experimentation and field study. In experiments with living snakes the melanic morph maintained a higher body temperature than the striped morph, when exposed to natural insolation. Experiments with excised skin showed that this thermal advantage is attributable to some integumental difference between the two morphs. Body temperatures of snakes in the field revealed that, during the colder part of the active season, melanics were able to stay warmer than striped snakes by an amount (1.24 C°) approximating the difference observed in the laboratory. Some evidence and argument is presented to suggest that melanism also may confer protection against overheating in warm periods.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bagnara, J.T., Hadley, M.E.: Chromatophores and color change. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall 1973
Blanchard, F.N., Blanchard, F.C.: The inheritance of melanism in the garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis (Linnaeus), and some evidence of effective autumn mating. Pap. Mich. Acad. Sci. Arts Lett. 26, 177–193 (1940)
Cena, K., Monteith, J.L.: Transfer processes in animal coats: I. Radiative transfer. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci. 188, 377–394 (1975)
Clousdley-Thompson, J.L.: The temperature and water relations of reptiles. Watford, England: Merrow 1971
Cole, L.C.: Experiments on toleration of high temperature in lizards with reference to adaptive coloration. Ecology 24, 94–108 (1943)
Conant, R.: The reptiles of Ohio. Amer. Midl. Nat. 20, 1–200 (1938)
Gates, D.M.: Energy exchange in the biosphere. New York: Harper and Row 1962
Gibson, A.R.: The ecological significance of a colour polymorphism in the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis (L.). Ph.D. dissertation, Univ. Toronto (1978)
Gibson, A.R., Falls, J.B.: Thermal biology of the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis (L.) I. Temporal variation, environment effects and sex differences. Oecologia (Berl.) (in press, 1979)
Hamilton, W.J.III., Heppner, F.H.: Radiant solar energy and the function of black homeotherm pigmentation: an hypothesis. Science 155, 196–197 (1967)
Heatwole, H.: Reptile ecology. St. Lucia, Queensland: Univ. Queensland Press 1976
Heppner, F.H.: The metabolic significance of differential absorption of radiant energy by black and white birds. Condor 72, 50–59 (1970)
Krog, J.: Notes on temperature measurements indicative of special organization in arctic and subarctic plants for utilization of radiated heat from the sun. Physiologia Plantarum 8, 836–839 (1955)
Logier, E.B.S.: Melanism in the garter snake, Thamnophis s. sirtalis in Ontario. Copeia 172, 83–84 (1929)
Lustick, S.: Bird energetics: effects of artificial radiation. Science 163, 387–390 (1969)
Maderson, P.F.A.: Histological changes in the epidermis of snakes during the sloughing cycle. J. Zool. (Lond.) 146, 98–113 (1965)
Monteith, J.L.: Principles of environmental physics. London: Edward Arnold 1973
Norris, K.S.: Color adaptation in desert reptiles and its thermal relationships. In: Lizard ecology (W.W. Milstead, ed.), pp. 169–229. Columbia, Missouri: Univ. Missouri Press 1967
Oritsland, N.A.: A windchill and solar radiation index for homeotherms. J. Theor. Biol. 47, 413–420 (1974)
Patch, C.L.: A rattlesnake, melano garter snakes and other reptiles from Point Pelee, Ontario. Can. Field-Natur. 33, 60–61 (1919)
Remington, R.D., Schork, M.A.: Statistics with applications to the biological and health sciences. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall 1970
Ruibal, R.: The ultrastructure of the surface of lizard scales. Copeia 1968, 698–703 (1968)
Saint Girons, H., Saint Girons, M.-C.: Cycle d'activité et thermorégulation chez les reptiles (lézards et serpents). Vie Milieu 7, 133–226 (1956)
Stewart, G.R.: Thermal ecology of the garter snakes Thamnophis sirtalis concinnus (Hallowell) and Thamnophis ordinoides (Barid and Girard). Herpetological 21, 81–102 (1965)
Stewart, G.R., Daniel, R.S.: Scales of the lizard Gekko gecko: surface structure examined with the scanning electron microscope. Copeia 1972, 252–257 (1972)
Stewart, G.R., Daniel, R.S.: Scanning electron microscopy of scales from different body regions of three lizard species. J. Morph 139, 377–388 (1973)
Templeton, J.R.: Reptiles. In. Comparative physiology of thermoregulation. Volume 1. Invertebrates and nonmammalian vertebrates (G.C. Whittow, ed.), pp. 167–221. New York and London: Academic Press 1970
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ralph Gibson, A., Bruce Falls, J. Thermal biology of the common garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis (L.). Oecologia 43, 99–109 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346675
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346675