im curious...

if snakes cant tell when somethings too hot, (rocks etc.)
how do they know when they need to thermoregulate?

I've been assuming they can sense their internal temperature well enough. You know when you feel hot, but you also have reflexes and thousands of heat sensors all over your body that tell you when something is too hot and protect you. That seems to be the thing that they're missing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

if snakes cant tell when somethings too hot, (rocks etc.)
how do they know when they need to thermoregulate?

---

By rock i assume u mean a heat rock? If so :colbert:

Heat rocks are very bad :please:

oh i know heat rocks are bad & im not getting one i was just using it as an example...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mommanessy247

oh i know heat rocks are bad & im not getting one i was just using it as an example...

---

ok good :gj:

All i know is the rock gets to hot and before they know their burned they are. Which is a good question. How do they know when to thermoregulate when they dint even know a heat rock is to hot?

I really don't know. Maybe the same way we sometimes get sunburned before we know it. :confuzd:

doesnt it make ya curious though...obviously they have to have heat sensors all over their body but i wonder why they'd just sit happy as can be on a rock thats hurting them...
things that make ya go "hmm."

I think they get burned because their instinct over ride each other. If you could imagine two halves of their brain fighting on wants security the other wants warmth normally this causes thermo-regulation, which is why we suggest you offer two hides. When they are both satisfied they gang up on the part of the brain that says "run your being hurt!" tie him up and shove him in the locker. Basically their basic needs over rides their self preservation trigger..

That's just my two cents.

makes sense

Well there jacobson's organ lets them sense heat right? I think I read that.

Maybe when something thats clearly TO hot is there only choice than they will do what they have to to survive even if it might hurt them.

Hi,

The Jacobsons organ is the scent detecting bit they place their tongues on in the roof of the mouth I think.

The heat sensors are arranged along the top lip - those little pits we can see. :)

I always wondered if they tend to get burnt on the belly because the belly is less sensitive being designed for moving about on.


dr del

Oh thanks doc. I knew pythons had heat pits but I wondered if other species did to.

hmmm.. I need to read more.