i agree

Posted by east coast dave on April 24, 2002 at 12:36:30:

In Reply to: I would have to hypothesize... posted by Kenny Wray on April 24, 2002 at 08:53:21:

i would agree that its origin is as a warning mechanism, and with time is has become an incredibly effective one at that. i'm sure most of us have found rattlesnakes in the field due only to this warning, and at close range from a snake with a large rattle this can be a harrowing event. seems to invoke some kind of almost reflexive, innate response.

yet i suspect it is unlikely that the fossil record will ever really point to a specific threat that could have lead to the evolution of the rattle. i seem to doubt that a particular order, much less a single species, could effect such a lasting change on the pitvipers that evolved into rattlesnakes, but of course this is just unsubstantiated opinion. makes for interesting discussion though.

interesting field notes - thanks for the post.

ecd

Follow Ups:

• Warning or death warrant......... Kerby... 04/25/02 (1)
  • ok, but not my point ecd 04/26/02 (0)

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: i would agree that its origin is as a warning mechanism, and with time is has become an incredibly effective one at that. i'm sure most of us have found rattlesnakes in the field due only to this warning, and at close range from a snake with a large rattle this can be a harrowing event. seems to invoke some kind of almost reflexive, innate response. : yet i suspect it is unlikely that the fossil record will ever really point to a specific threat that could have lead to the evolution of the rattle. i seem to doubt that a particular order, much less a single species, could effect such a lasting change on the pitvipers that evolved into rattlesnakes, but of course this is just unsubstantiated opinion. makes for interesting discussion though. : interesting field notes - thanks for the post. : ecd

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