
%0 Journal Article
%A Thompson, Graham G. 
%A Withers, Philip C. 
%T Effect of sloughing and digestion on metabolic rate in the Australian carpet python, <emph type="2">Morelia spilota imbricata</emph>
%J Australian Journal of Zoology
%D 1999/12/07
%V 47
%N 6
%P 605-610
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO99012
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/ZO99012 
%X The standard metabolic rate for juvenile carpet pythons, Morelia spilota imbricata, with a mean body mass of 129.6 g (range 57.7&#8211;253 g) increased from 6.75 &#177; 0.96 (s.e.) mL h&#8211;1 to 42.6 &#177; 12.40 (s.e.) mL h&#8211;1 in 48 h after ingesting mice equal to approximately 23% of their body mass, at a temperature of 30&#176;C. Sloughing increased metabolic rate to approximately 146% of standard metabolic rate at 30&#176;C. Metabolic rate is elevated before the eyes become opaque and other visual signs indicate that a slough is imminent. The implications of these two factors when measuring standard metabolic rate are discussed. 
