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Selected body temperature of three different desert snakes belonging to three families was determined in the laboratory. The species occupy different habitats and become active at different times. Mean selected body temperatures of the three species during day and night were similar. All three species exhibited a wide range of temperature selection during day and night, but temperature range selection was wider during the activity period of the animals. The metabolic rate-temperature curves of the three species were determined over the body temperature range from 10-35 degrees C. Interspecific differences in levels of resting oxygen consumption and in the characteristics of the metabolic rate-temperature curves were examined in relation to methods of thermoregulation and to the ecology of the respective species. (C) 1996 Academic Press Limited