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ABSTRACT Arising from: J. J. Head _et al._ _Nature_ 457, 715–717 (2009)10.1038/nature07671; Head _et al._ reply In their report on _Titanoboa cerrejonensis_, Head _et al._1 propose that the

great size of this 58 to 60 million-year-old snake (estimated length = 13 m, mass = 1,135 kg) indicates a mean annual neotropical temperature (MAT) of 30–34 °C, substantially higher than

previous estimates for that period. They argue that the high MAT was necessary to compensate for the decreased mass-specific metabolic rate intrinsic to a snake of this size. However, the

relationship on which Head _et al._1 base their conclusion does not account for the scope of behavioural control over body temperature available to _Titanoboa_ due to its huge mass. Our

calculations suggest that because of its ability to behaviourally control its body temperature, _Titanoboa_ cannot serve as an accurate palaeothermometer. Access through your institution Buy

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SHARKS (_SOMNIOSUS MICROCEPHALUS_) IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC Article Open access 09 November 2020 REFERENCES * Head, J. J. et al. Giant boid snake from the Paleocene neotropics reveals hotter

past equatorial temperatures. _Nature_ 457, 715–717 (2009) Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Makarieva, A. M., Gorshkov, V. G. & Li, B.-L. Gigantism, temperature and metabolic rate in

terrestrial poikilotherms. _Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B_ 272, 2325–2328 (2005) Article  Google Scholar  * Denny, M. W. _Air & Water: The Physics of Life’s Media_ 145–173 (Princeton, 2000)

Google Scholar  * Gates, D. M. _Biophysical Ecology_ 12–24; 382–427 (Dover, 1980) Google Scholar  * Chappell, M. A. & Ellis, T. M. Resting metabolic rates in boid snakes: allometric

relationships and temperature effects. _J. Comp. Physiol. [B]_ 157, 227–235 (1987) Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Denny, M. W. & Harley, C. D. G. Hot limpets: predicting body

temperature in a conductance-mediated system. _J. Exp. Biol._ 209, 2409–2419 (2006) Article  Google Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * * Hopkins

Marine Station of Stanford University, Ocean View Boulevard, Pacific Grove, California 93950, USA. [email protected] , Mark W. Denny, Brent L. Lockwood & George N. Somero Authors *

Mark W. Denny View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Brent L. Lockwood View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * George N. Somero View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar POWERPOINT SLIDES POWERPOINT SLIDE FOR FIG. 1 RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS

Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Denny, M., Lockwood, B. & Somero, G. Can the giant snake predict palaeoclimate?. _Nature_ 460, E3–E4 (2009).

https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08224 Download citation * Received: 20 February 2009 * Accepted: 27 April 2009 * Issue Date: 30 July 2009 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08224 SHARE THIS

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