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Re: Diversionary tactics...

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Posted by Greg Knoell on April 25, 2002 at 18:06:50:

In Reply to: Diversionary tactics... posted by Jaffo on April 25, 2002 at 15:34:21:

The commonly observed characteristic of
rattlesnakes placing their rattle inside their
coils does not cancel out the chance that it
evolved as a means of luring or distraction form
a snake's head. A behavioral adaptation to keep
the rattle safe could have arouse after the rattle
became a warning device rather than one of
attraction or distraction.

It would seem to me that the behavior of tail
vibration would have to evolve before a rattle
would. I don't believe non-venomous snakes that
vibrate their tail when nervous is a direct
case of mimicry from rattlesnakes, it may now
be a benifit, but I would hypothesize that some
non-venomous snakes vibrated their tails before
ancient crotalus species evolved a rattle. It
obviously was functional and is today in areas
where ralltesnakes do not even occur yet other
types of snakes in these areas do vibrate their
tails when nervous.

Follow Ups:

Re: Diversionary tactics... Jaffo 04/26/02 (1)
- I agree...more... Greg Knoell 04/26/02 (0)

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: The commonly observed characteristic of : rattlesnakes placing their rattle inside their : coils does not cancel out the chance that it : evolved as a means of luring or distraction form : a snake's head. A behavioral adaptation to keep : the rattle safe could have arouse after the rattle : became a warning device rather than one of : attraction or distraction. : It would seem to me that the behavior of tail : vibration would have to evolve before a rattle : would. I don't believe non-venomous snakes that : vibrate their tail when nervous is a direct : case of mimicry from rattlesnakes, it may now : be a benifit, but I would hypothesize that some : non-venomous snakes vibrated their tails before : ancient crotalus species evolved a rattle. It : obviously was functional and is today in areas : where ralltesnakes do not even occur yet other : types of snakes in these areas do vibrate their : tails when nervous.

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