Postprandial thermogenesis in Bothrops moojeni (Serpentes: Viperidae)
J. venom. anim. toxins incl. trop. dis
; 17(3): 287-292, 2011. ilus, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-597227
Responsible library:
BR33.1
ABSTRACT
Snakes that can ingest prey that are proportionally large have high metabolic rates during digestion. This great increase in metabolic rate (specific dynamic action - SDA) may create a significant augment in the animal's body temperature. The present study investigated postprandial thermogenesis in Bothrops moojeni. Briefly, two groups of snakes were fed meals equivalent to 17 ± 3 percent and 32 ± 5 percent of their body weight and were observed for 72 hours, in which thermal images of each snake were taken with an infrared camera in a thermostable environment with a constant air temperature of 30ºC. The results showed a significant increase in snake surface temperature, with a thermal peak between 33 and 36 hours after feeding. The meal size had a great impact on the intensity and duration of the thermogenic response. Such increase in temperature appears to be connected with the huge increase in metabolic rates during digestion of relatively large prey by snakes that feed infrequently. The ecologic implication of the thermogenic response is still not well understood; however, it is possible that its presence could affect behaviors associated with the snake digestion, such as postprandial thermophily.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
LILACS
Main subject:
Bothrops
/
Thermogenesis
/
Digestion
/
Feeding Behavior
Limits:
Animals
Language:
English
Journal:
J. venom. anim. toxins incl. trop. dis
Journal subject:
Toxicology
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
/
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
Butantan Institute/BR
/
Department of Biological Sciences/CA
/
São Paulo State University/BR