The Photic Responses and Water-approach Behavior of Hatchling Turtles'

SUMMARY Water relationships in two subspecies of the common water snake, N. s. confluens and N. s. clarki, were investigated. Since previous experiments had indicated differences in the mechanisms by which these two snakes maintained water balance, a further series of tests was conducted in an attempt to identify these differences. Permeability of the skin of these two races was tested with an osmometer. No water transfer through this organ could be demonstrated in either subspecies. It is concluded that the skin performs no role in water transfer.