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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by Cro on February 11, 2010
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I am surprised that no one has mentioned American Bison (aka Buffalo).
If there ever was a large grazing animal of the American plains that might have posed a danger to a rattlesnake, it surely would have been them.
At one time, they existed in herds of tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands.
But, even in those times, any prairie dwelling rattlesnake would have been using animal burrows, and rock outcrops, and vegetation for shelter.
I think the grazing animal theory is just one of those things that is so easy for folks to think of, that it is easy to see how it made it into folk lore.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by lanceheads on February 11, 2010
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I mentioned Bison in my earlier post John.
So Alan, when will you be releashing your study/paper?
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by Irishviper on February 11, 2010
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Most of what the study produced is done. I need a month to get the statistics complete, and after that its reviews. It has to get past my committee first before any papers will be published. So long as my department doesn't throw any curve balls at me, I'd say no later than August.
Alan
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by lanceheads on February 11, 2010
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Thanks Alan.
We look forward to it.
And if your ever down San Antonio way, be sure to stop by my reptile show and say hi!
Randal Berry
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by lanceheads on February 13, 2010
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Here's a video of the "tail-wag" defensive posture.
Ignore (if you can, the water bowl!)He probably was opening the container to give it fresh water.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZtmQPF1vww
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by FSB on February 13, 2010
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During the Miocene and Pliocene epochs, when modern snake families were undergoing their greatest diversification, the Americas were home to a much greater abundance and variety of large grazing beasts and predators than exist today, including rhinoceros, horses, big cats and elephants, in addition to the bison, elk etc. that still exist. [Obviously rattlesnakes predate the arrival of domestic cattle and horses]. Still, one would think that, as today, the hypersensitivity of snakes to low-level ground vibrations would be sufficient to help them elude being stepped on by casual grazers, and in the event a snake were caught in the open during a bison stampede, I doubt the rattle would make much difference anyway. A rattle might indeed ward off the intrusion of a large beast upon a comfortably resting snake, or deter a curious cat, but that is still more effect than cause. The "grazing animal theory" fails to address the part that is most fascinating to me - how the very unique and complex structure of the rattle itself came to be, and why a rattle and not, say, the raspy saw-scales of Echis or simply a very audible hiss, as in Pituophis and Bitis? As John hinted earlier, I do have an idea about this, but don't feel that it is quite ready yet for "peer review." It's also just too long and tedious to peck out on a forum with this darned stylus thing [and this thread has already become an anaconda in length].
I am convinced that the rattle evolved as a function of the already extant behavior of tail vibrating. By the way John, thank you for your very encouraging email. I tried to answer it but my lengthy reply was devoured by the stupid library computer - how I do hate Microsoft. I do have a computer, but no internet at home, so next time I'll wise up and use my flash drive. Meanwhile, thanks to this forum for helping me maintain my insanity [sic] during the great blizzard of 2010.
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by FSB on February 13, 2010
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Incidentally, now that we're deep enough into this thread that presumably only the hard-core are still following it, I thought it might be interesting to share the reason for asking the original question in the first place. Seems that the "cobra lady of White Marsh" [remember her?] was claiming that the C. cumanensis [now in our quarantine at the zoo] was somehow involved in such a study, and that she was merely "snake-sitting" for one of the study participants. The DNR officer we work with was asking if I could track down any information about it. I have no idea how or why this might affect the fact that she was illegaly housing a venomous snake one way or another, but that's what I was asked to look into. At any rate, it seems to me that an obviously captive born and raised C. cumanensis would be an odd choice for such a study.
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by Cro on February 13, 2010
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Fred, I found a couple of interesting studies out there.
Habituation of the Rattle Response in Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes, Crotalus atrox
http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/CE-06-246?cookieSet=1&journalCode=cope
and
Muscle Physiology and the Evolution of the Rattling System in Rattlesnakes
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1565969
and
The Physical Basis of the Rattling Sound in the Rattlesnake Crotalus viridis oreganus
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1565089
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Rattlesnake Non-rattling Study
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by FSB on February 14, 2010
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Thanks John - those look very interesting... I'll definitely check them out.
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