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Can Snakes See in Colour?
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by Naja_oxiana on October 7, 2003
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I ask this because a friend of mine has a burmese python that goes ape sh!t if she attemps to do anything with it while she's wearing red nail polish. Any other colour nails and the snake is as mellow as can be, but red just sets it's defensive reaction off. She asked my opinion--as I'm obviously a fount of herpetological learning--and so I'm passing the question on to you all for more learned opinions. (And because it's been a year and a half since I even touched a snake.:-)
Cheers,
Roger
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RE: Can Snakes See in Colour?
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by Naja_oxiana on October 8, 2003
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But could ther ebe different scents with those rodents?
Another question. Is there any difference in the eues of snakes with heat pits from those without heat pits? After all, I posted this question relating to a boid with pits and your rattlers certainly have pits. I suppose that it would stand to reason that pit vipers really don't need their eyes as much.
Cheers,
Roger
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RE: Can Snakes See in Colour?
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by cottonmouth on October 9, 2003
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Possible, but the rats come out of the same lot so I wouldn't think it would be scent. I have a bullsnake that I caught in Odessa Texas and he won't except a white rat either!!!!
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RE: Can Snakes See in Colour?
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by Parcelmouth on October 9, 2003
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Hello,
This might help a little with rattlesnakes,but not with pythons.Page 67 of Manny Rubio's Rattlesnake Portrait of a Predator says that rattlesnakes do indeed have both rods and cones so they must see in "some form of color".The book also state that "snake's retinas have a preponderous of rod cells(light receptors)These provide superior adaptation for twilight and night vision."In addition the book also explains that "inside the eye the lens is focused by moving it forward and back(like a camera lens)rather than by changing shape.Rattlesnakes lack a fovea or focal point at the back of the eye,so they are incapable of seeinga sharply defined image.They see a wide field with better acuity towards the center.Their vision becomes almost useless at periphery.Because rattlesnake's eyes are set towards the side of the head,the angle they accept does not completely overlap giving them mostly lateral monocular vision,This severly limits their depth perception.Also"movement,likely perceived through the reflection of highlights,is the most important stimulus.It initiates response bringing other senses into play.Many rattlesnakes react to prey movements immediately with a strike,never employing the vomeronasal tongue flicking apparatus.They do however,use it after a strike for trailing envenomated prey."
In a side note I have a Burmese python that is a very aggressive feeder.He has always been feed on white domestic rabbits since he was of size to take them.However he refused to strike or feed on a brown lop eared rabbit.(before I get blasted for being a cruel heartless cute and fuzzy bunny killer here, the lop eared rabbit was sold to me by a rabbit breeder who could not use it because it was sterile and she was going to put it down anyway.)
Hope this helps and I myself would like to know if any one else has any additional info on the subject of snakes seeing in color or not.
Thanks,
J.S.
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RE: Can Snakes See in Colour?
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by sierra on October 16, 2003
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Roger,
My large female asper will chase the end(which is red) of our midwest tongs if I use it to place a rat in her cage,..... she wont do it if I use any other instruments to place the rat in, and she also will tongue flick it and nudge it with her rostrum pushing it all over the place..none of the other snakes we have will do this...its quite amazing to watch, and the fist time she did it was kinda freaky because she followed the tongs nearly outa the cage, so I pushed the tongs back in and she was very intent on the red upper jaw of the tongs. She will do this anythime I use those tongs so I now use 2' hemos to feed her otherwise she is distracted instead of feeding...so I do believe that they see some color, although many snakes have a preferance for a certain color rodent(usually brown or white) that in itself isnt conclusive...but red would be.....
By the way...did you ever get my last letter with the article in it? Hows that little one doing?
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Hi Sierra
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by Naja_oxiana on October 17, 2003
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I've been quite busy recently. Two Classes, MArine Corps BS and working with General Clark's presidential campaign.
Yes I did get the article. Very good.
My daughter's walking everywhere now, and hopefully giving my ex many gray hairs in the process.
Cheers,
Roger
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