Early photolysis intermediates of native bovine rhodopsin (RHO) are investigated by nanosecond laser photolysis near physiological temperature. Absorption difference spectra are collected after excitation with 477-, 532-, and 560-nm laser pulses of various energies and with 477-nm laser excitation at 5, 12, 17, 21, and 32 degrees C. The data are analyzed by using singular-value decomposition (SVD) and a global exponential fitting routine. Two rate constants associated with distinct spectral changes are observed during the time normally associated with the decay of bathorhodopsin to lumirhodopsin. Various models consistent with this observation are considered. A sequential model in which there is a reversible step between a bathorhodopsin intermediate and a new intermediate (BSI), which is blue-shifted relative to lumirhodopsin, is shown to best fit the data. The temperature dependence of the observed and calculated rate constants leads to linear Arrhenius plots. Extrapolation of the temperature dependence suggests that BSI should not be observable after rhodopsin photolysis at temperatures below -100 degrees C. The results are discussed with regard to the artificial visual pigments cis-5,6-dihydroisorhodopsin and 13-demethylrhodopsin. It is proposed that the rate of the BATHO to BSI transition is limited by the relaxation of the strained all-trans-retinal chromophore within a tight protein environment. The transition to LUMI involves chromophore relaxation concurrent with protein relaxation. While the first process is strongly affected by changes in the chromophore, the second transition seems to be determined more by protein relaxation.