An equally interesting question......

Posted by PatrickV on April 27, 2002 at 03:07:06:

In Reply to: evolution of the rattle posted by east coast dave on April 23, 2002 at 23:03:18:

Is why agkistrodon has similar physiology of the tail musculature and vascularization but other species of snake which rattle the tail as a warning do not (ie: elaphe, lampropeltus) i will look for the references later but i did a research project on rattle evolution. lots of things are odd.

agkistrodon has a much higher rate of oxygen consumption in the tail muscles than do colubrids but less so than rattlesnakes (they seem to be the intermediate). some evidence has pointed towards birds or other active predators with acute hearing being the selection force behind the rattle. think about....if a pigmy rattlesnake rattled at a bison, would it even hear it or care? many birds have a much more sensitive hearing in high frequencies. food for thought. i havent read all the other replies so i'm sorry if i am repetitive at the moment. if anyone cares for the papers on tailshaker muscle physiology or other things email me and i will take the time to scrounge them up.

patrickv

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: Is why agkistrodon has similar physiology of the tail musculature and vascularization but other species of snake which rattle the tail as a warning do not (ie: elaphe, lampropeltus) i will look for the references later but i did a research project on rattle evolution. lots of things are odd. : agkistrodon has a much higher rate of oxygen consumption in the tail muscles than do colubrids but less so than rattlesnakes (they seem to be the intermediate). some evidence has pointed towards birds or other active predators with acute hearing being the selection force behind the rattle. think about....if a pigmy rattlesnake rattled at a bison, would it even hear it or care? many birds have a much more sensitive hearing in high frequencies. food for thought. i havent read all the other replies so i'm sorry if i am repetitive at the moment. if anyone cares for the papers on tailshaker muscle physiology or other things email me and i will take the time to scrounge them up. : patrickv

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