Posted by Rich G. on April 25, 2002 at 17:32:07:
In Reply to: Diversionary tactics... posted by Jaffo on April 25, 2002 at 15:34:21:
Think about though Jaffo, when the snake is coiled it is trying to stay hidden from both predators and prey. Of course it keeps the tail concealed. But where is the tail the minute the snake is disturbed and starts rattling? Up in the air. Or when the snake is crawling in the open. The addition off the rattle would help even more to draw attention to the tail end. Callisaurus and Cophosaurus also keep the underside of their tails hidden until they feel they are being pursued. Now that I think about it there has been several times when I have taken newbies driving and had them tell me they saw something banded off the side of the road as we passed by or did a U-turn. It always turned out to be th etail of an atrox or scute, they didn't even see the rest of the snake.
