Temperature acclimation in hot-spring snakes and the convergence of cold response
Graphical abstract
Animals have evolved sophisticated temperature sensing systems and mechanisms to detect and respond to ambient temperature changes. As a relict species endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, hot-spring snake (Thermophis baileyi) survived the dramatic changes in climate that occurred during plateau uplift and ice ages, providing an excellent opportunity to explore the evolution of temperature sensation in ectotherms. Based on distributional information and behavioral experiments, we found that T. baileyi prefer hot spring habitats and respond more quickly to warmth than other two snakes, suggesting that T.
