The thermal regime offered in a particular environment varies on a daily scale with diurnal temperatures higher and more heterogenous than nocturnal temperatures. Elapid snakes are a group of ectotherms that exploit different activity times. 

I am interested in understanding the differences in the physiology and thermal biology of diurnal and nocturnal elapid snakes that allows them to be active in different thermal environments. 

The species that I am studying include two nocturnal species, Eastern Small-eyed (Rhinoplocephalus nigrescens,above left), Golden Crown (Cacophis squamulosus), one species that is active nocturnally and diurnally, Swamp Snake (Hemiaspis signata,right), and one diurnal species, Yellowfaced whip-snake (Demansia psammophis,bottom). These species are similar with respect to diet, size, and they are all common in the Sydney region.