# Nocturnal reptiles?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nocturnal-reptiles/427007>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 19, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nocturnal-reptiles/427007 "2007-11-19T04:22:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nocturnal-reptiles/427007/1 "2007-11-19T04:22:30Z")

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On another thread, **blondebear** suggested krait collecting. Not knowing what that might be, I [looked](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krait) it up.  
Nocturnal? how can that be? Most snakes I know restore themselves by sunbathing.  
Peace,  
mangeorge

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**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nocturnal-reptiles/427007/2 "2007-11-19T04:49:56Z")

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Quite a few lizard species are primarily nocturnal. Geckos and gila monsters come to mind.

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**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nocturnal-reptiles/427007/3 "2007-11-19T07:54:58Z")

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There’s a great variety of such behaviors in reptiles, but in general–speaking very, very generally–most snakes are less likely to require direct sunlight for health, while–again, generally–most lizards and turtles require it in order to metabolize calcium. If the climate is warm enough, that’s all most snakes need; not the light, just the degrees.

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**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\
**Post date:** [November 19, 2007, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nocturnal-reptiles/427007/4 "2007-11-19T15:59:04Z")

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[QUOTE=lissener]  
If the climate is warm enough, that’s all most snakes need; not the light, just the degrees.  
[/QUOTE]

Most kraits are found in Southern Asia (warm), but interestingly enough, some kraits extend their range into Nepal. That surprised me, but I suspect they would be found in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, which does have a hot and humid climate.