tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85139292598080462712024-03-14T06:19:06.716-07:00SocialSnakesFor in the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught. – Baba Dioum, Senegalese ConservationistAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-74203139796018290632013-05-12T14:17:00.001-07:002013-05-12T14:17:35.755-07:00Happy Mother's Day!Mother's day is a much bigger deal than Father's day. Why? Well, there's just something extra special about mom (<i>sorry Dad!</i>). So, today's post is about an under-appreciated group of moms (you guessed it), Arizona black rattlesnakes!<br /><br />
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6522762351_13079a5d7f_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6522762351_13079a5d7f_z.jpg" /></a><br /><br />
Human moms - you think you have it tough? <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/maternal%20care">Rattlesnake maternal duties</a> may only last a couple weeks, but during that time they may have to protect their kids from extreme temperatures, a suite of predators, annoying (and deadly?) <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/squirrel">squirrels</a>, and clumsy humans with cameras... By the time they give birth, mother rattlesnakes likely haven't eaten in weeks or even months, but they wait another couple weeks to give full attention to their newborns. So here's to you rattlesnake mommies!<br /><br />
We'll start with the most famous of all, <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/Cap%20Mama">Cap Mama</a>, who showed us what a typical day is like for a new rattlesnake family:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31286818?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><br />
For an explanation of the behaviors seen in that video, check out <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/10/day-in-life-of-rattlesnake-family.html">this post</a>.<br /><br />
<a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6289690147_f8aeb71c12_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6237/6289690147_f8aeb71c12_z.jpg" /></a><br />
What a beautiful family she has!<br /><br />
<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/sigma">Sigma</a> may have been one of our smaller mothers, but what she lacked in size she made up for in bravery:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33815696?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><br />
Check out the full story of Sigma's squirrel battles <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/12/sigma-vs-squirrel.html">here</a>.<br /><br />
We've been lucky enough to see <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/woody">Woody</a> and <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/alice">Alice</a> with two different litters.<br />
<a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5345075944_ee584d433e_b.jpg" title="alice 2010"><img alt="alice" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5345075944_ee584d433e_b.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a><br />
Alice's family, 2010<br /><br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/8291536437/" title="alice 2012"><img alt="alice" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8291536437_e31b68ac19.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a><br />
Alice's family, 2012<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/57079002" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><br />
Woody's family, 2012. You can watch more timelapse videos of Woody's family <a href="http://vimeo.com/57021508">here</a> and <a href="http://vimeo.com/57020067">here</a>.<br /><br />
Every mom needs a day off. So the lucky (or smart?) rattlesnakes that nest in groups help each other out with maternal duties. If one is still pregnant, and thus needs to be on the surface basking, she attend to the newborns while the new mother stays in cover for a well-deserved rest. <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/priscilla">Priscilla</a> was the first rattlesnake we observed exhibiting this baby-sitting behavior.<br />
<a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6265132015_fc639f3279_z.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6156/6265132015_fc639f3279_z.jpg" height="400" width="600"/></a>
You can read more about Priscilla and House <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/10/rattlesnake-helper.html">here</a>.<br /><br />
Male rattlesnakes occasionally help out in this way too. Although we've never observed any active care or protective behavior from males, just the presence of a large rattlesnake may be enough to deter some predators.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26959563?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><br />
Still image of the group:<br />
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6777796887_f24624a7b7_z.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6777796887_f24624a7b7_z.jpg" height="400" width="600"/></a><br />
Green Male (adult male) is the large black rattlesnake at the top of the image and the mother (<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/devil%20tail">Devil Tail</a>) is the smaller, brown adult (mostly her tail and rattle are visible).<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/38247500?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe><br />
A handful of newborns follow Roger (adult male) out of the nest entrance to a preferred basking spot.<br /><br />
Sometimes the youngest (smallest) mom gets stuck with the surface duties of caring for the newborns. <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/eve">Eve</a> was the smallest of the pair of snakes that nested at this site; we saw her often on the surface with way too many babies to have all been her own. The older (larger) female was rarely seen on the surface with the newborns.<br />
<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8291537471_76671c496d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8291537471_76671c496d_b.jpg" height="400" width="600" /></a><br /><br />
This is the first Mother's day in years that we haven't spent at dens with our rattlesnake mothers-to-be. But, as of last week, two (<a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/persephone/">Persephone</a> and <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/luna/">Luna</a>) of our three Muleshoe rattlesnakes are still near their dens. While this is atypical rattlesnake behavior in general, it is characteristic of pregnant Arizona black rattlesnakes. So maybe we'll have a couple more names to add to this list next year!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-45355408350373081072013-05-01T15:41:00.000-07:002013-05-01T16:48:00.852-07:00Save the Frogs Day 2013!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://socialsnakes.org/STF2013.html"><img alt="stfd" class="aligncenter" height="522" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/24429_474115109320579_2111986863_n.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
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Muleshoe's first <a href="http://www.savethefrogs.com/day" target="_blank">Save the Frogs Day</a> was a success! Thirty people (14 adults and 16 kids) participated in this year's event, including a science class from a local middle school. We learned about our local frog (<a href="http://www.reptilesofaz.org/Turtle-Amphibs-Subpages/h-l-yavapaiensis.html" target="_blank">Lowland leopard frog</a>, <i>Lithobates yavapaiensis</i>), built them a new pond, and of course ran into a snake or two.
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We'll let the photos (and video) tell the story.
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7541.jpg"><img alt="frog walk" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-530" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7541.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
Dennis Caldwell (green shirt) of the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/frogspotsprogram/" target="_blank">FROG Conservation Project</a>, discusses threats to frogs while pointing out some Lowland Leopard Frogs in the <em>Twin Lakes</em>.
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7542.jpg"><img alt="iphone frog" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-531" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7542.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
One of the students gets up close and personal with a Lowland Leopard Frog.
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7547.jpg"><img alt="close frog" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-532" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7547.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
This frog didn't seem to mind being photographed...
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7581.jpg"><img alt="super close frog" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-533" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7581.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
And was quite photogenic!<br />
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The middle school students helped us install a new frog pond at Headquarters. The following timelapse video was taken as they dug the pond.
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="375" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/65257464" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe>
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While this pond may not look pretty yet, a similar-sized pond that was put in last fall already has successful breeding in it:
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7621.jpg"><img alt="meta" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-539" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7621.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
Can you spot the newly metamorhposized frog with the large tail?<br />
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Saturday was all about frogs, but it's hard NOT to find snakes at Muleshoe! Several made an appearance, including our old friend <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/porter/">Porter</a> (male black-tailed rattlesnake), who reappeared at the Visitor Center for the first time this year. Last fall he was one of the last rattlesnakes seen at the Visitor Center and also hunted there last summer.
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7534.jpg"><img alt="jeff robert porter" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-540" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7534.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
Jeff helps one of the kids find Porter, who is resting under the little wooden boardwalk.
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7536.jpg"><img alt="kittles porter" class="aligncenter wp-image-529" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7536.jpg" height="667" width="444" /></a></div>
Fun for the entire family!<br />
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We captured another black-tailed rattlesnake (Tarzan) that we processed (marked and measured) with the students.
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7586.jpg"><img alt="snake process 1" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-534" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7586.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
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As Tarzan goes to sleep, Jeff explains how we paint their rattles so we can identify Tarzan in the future without handling him again.<br />
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7588.jpg"><img alt="snake process 2 over" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-535" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7588.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
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Tarzan was a pretty large rattlesnake!<br />
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc_7592.jpg"><img alt="snake process 3 close" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-536" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/dsc_7592.jpg?w=500" height="299" width="500" /></a></div>
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Everyone pitched in to help monitor his heart rate.<br />
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Sunday morning we took a small group out to visit <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/bane/">Bane</a>, our male Arizona black rattlesnake.</div>
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7616.jpg"><img alt="tracking bane" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-537" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7616.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
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Guests check out our beautiful boy,<br />
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<a href="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7618.jpg"><img alt="bane" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-538" src="http://snakeresearch.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/dsc_7618.jpg?w=500" height="333" width="500" /></a></div>
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who didn't disappoint.<br />
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Thanks to everyone who participated in our first Save the Frogs Day!<br />
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Sound like fun? Join us for Snake Count, which is coming up in just a few weeks! Check out our <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/events/">event page</a> for more information.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-87687731647801211342013-04-08T10:48:00.000-07:002013-04-08T10:53:42.000-07:00They're everywhere!<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/564589_552840488069794_1158525485_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/564589_552840488069794_1158525485_n.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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When SocialSnakes started working at the <a href="http://muleshoe.socialsnakes.org/">Muleshoe Ranch Preserve</a> in <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/2011/09/23/bang">September 2011</a>, we were interested in whether Arizona black rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus cerberus</i>) den in groups here at the southern and low elevation end of their geographic range.
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They do!
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Last year we observed at least one Arizona black rattlesnake sharing a den at Muleshoe with several other reptile species (details <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/07/sharing.html">here</a>), but we still hadn't seen anything like the dens in cooler places (<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/10/wch2012.html">for example</a>).
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Until now.
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The following video was shot at <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/boyett/">Boyett's</a> den on 31 March 2013. Looks like we have a winner!
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/63356293?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" width="600" height="337" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
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How many rattlesnakes do you see?
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-7855851478899908142013-02-04T11:13:00.000-08:002013-02-04T11:13:08.409-08:00Women and SnakesFebruary is “<a href="http://snaketalk.wordpress.com/2013/02/01/february-is-women-and-snakes-month/">Women and Snakes</a>” Month!
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While herpetology (the study of reptiles and amphibians, including snakes) is still largely a man's world, there are more women in the field each year. Each day this month the <a href="http://www.snakeconservation.org/">Center for Snake Conservation</a> (CSC) is highlighting a different woman working to promote snake conservation.
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Today they're highlighting us (or rather, one of us):
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<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/487791_475747039150314_1839341482_n.jpg" title="4febws"><img alt="4febws" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/487791_475747039150314_1839341482_n.jpg" height="450" width="600" /></a>
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THANKS CSC! Follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Center-For-Snake-Conservation/139157552809266">Facebook</a> to learn about other women working in snake conservation and all the other important work done by the CSC.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-37016722169229950472013-01-22T07:00:00.000-08:002013-01-22T07:00:07.769-08:00Removing the blinders<em>"Fear of the dangers of anthropomorphism has caused ethologists to neglect many interesting phenomena, and it has become apparent that they could afford a little disciplined indulgence."</em> (<a href="#refs">Hinde 1982</a>)<br />
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<em>"To endow animals with human emotions has long been a scientific taboo. But if we do not, we risk missing something fundamental, about both animals and us."</em> (<a href="#refs">de Waal 1997</a>)<br />
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Many scientists, in their efforts to be unbiased and avoid anthropomorphism (assigning human traits to non-human animals), engage in <em>anthropodenial</em> (<a href="#refs">de Waal 1997</a>). Anthropodenial is the opposite of anthropomorphism: the refusal to acknowledge humanlike characteristics of non-humans animals, which is just a bias of another sort. As indicated by Hinde and de Waal above, scientists have missed some interesting animal behaviors because of anthropodenial. (For more on this topic, check out <a href="#refs">de Waal 1997</a>.)
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For example, numerous observations of rattlesnake families dating back more than a hundred years were dismissed by the godfather of rattlesnake biology, Laurence Klauber:<br />
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<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8291537471_76671c496d_b.jpg" title="Woody, summer 2010"><img alt="Woody, summer 2010" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8498/8291537471_76671c496d_b.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a><br />
<em>Their <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propinquity" target="_blank">propinquity</a>, such as it is, does not result from any maternal <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solicitude" target="_blank">solicitude</a>; rather it is only because the refuge sought by the mother is also used as a hiding place by the young. </em> (<a href="#refs">Klauber 1956</a>) <br />
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In 1992, Harry Greene, Peter May, David Hardy, Jolie Sciturro, and Terence Farrell published an <a href="#refs">article on viper parental care</a> in a peer-reviewed book. In it, they present evidence that not only do families aggregate, but mother snakes actively defend their newborns.<br />
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Was there some technological advance at that time that finally revealed this behavior to scientists? No. But, it's difficult to see what you don't look for and these authors took the time to look. They also reviewed others' observations of parental care in vipers, demonstrating that this behavior is widespread and <em><a href="http://precedings.nature.com/documents/6671/version/1">more than mere attendance</a></em>.<br />
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When we began our study of social snake behavior in 2010, we were armed with cameras, binoculars, and field notebooks. With these simple tools we managed to document behavior that was once so easily dimissed. How? We were looking for it. And maybe more importantly, we largely left the snakes alone and let them tell their story.<br />
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This is <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/woody" target="_blank">Woody's</a> story.<br />
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<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8355915970_d7809a2e23_b.jpg" title="Woody, summer 2010"><img alt="Woody, summer 2010" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8355915970_d7809a2e23_b.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a><br />
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We first encountered Woody (adult female Arizona black rattlesnake, <em>Crotalus cerberus</em>) in a pile of rocks and a jumble of downed pines in May 2010, about 150 yards from any known dens. We visited this area a number of times through the summer, and found her almost every time, relaxing near some rocks or coiled among woody debris (for which she is named). Because of her camouflage, we would have to search around for her, which sometimes brought us in close proximity, but Woody was even tempered, never rattling or attempting escape.<br />
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Then one day in late August, everything changed. We discovered several newborn rattlesnakes basking near Woody's favored spot. As we approached to get a closer look, but no closer than we had approached Woody so many other times, we heard muffled rattling from under the rocks. As we started snapping photos of the little ones, Woody poked her head out of her shelter and then proceeded to crawl from her refuge<em>toward </em>us, still rattling, and glaring directly at us. Our once-placid Woody was now fearless and wanted us to know she would not tolerate our advance. Impressed with her maternal instincts and not wanting to distress her or her young, we quickly backed off.<br />
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<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8354858305_d1b33d5fd3_b.jpg" title="Woody guarding, summer 2010"><img alt="Woody guarding, summer 2010" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8508/8354858305_d1b33d5fd3_b.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a><br />
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We were more careful in future visits to Woody's nest, but she remained a vigilant mother: rattling from within her shelter if we got too close, or assuming a defensive posture in between us and her kids (as shown in the photo above). The young caught on too, retreating into shelter if mom was upset.<br />
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Eventually the babies shed and the family split up, each trying to get a meal before it was time to enter their den for the winter. Since Woody's nest wasn't located close to a known den, we weren't sure when we would see her again. Was Woody's den located at or near her nest site? Would she show up at one of the dens we already monitored?<br />
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<a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8354867505_160421573c_b.jpg" title="Woody and Adam, spring 2011"><img alt="Woody & Adam, spring 2011" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8354867505_160421573c_b.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a><br />
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On the very first day we visited the dens in April 2011, we spotted Woody, basking in a popular spot with several other snakes, including some little ones that were born the previous summer. One of these juveniles turned out to be Woody's baby, <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/adam" target="_blank">Adam</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6123/5984699766_196e0a7478_z.jpg" title="Woody and Adam, spring 2011"><img alt="Woody & Adam sie-by-side, spring 2011" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6123/5984699766_196e0a7478_z.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a><br />
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The photo on the left is Adam (newborn on left) and Woody (right), at her nest in August 2010. Woody's nest was farther away than most in 2010, but Adam found his way to their den (photo on right taken at den basking area in spring 2011). In 2011 we starting using timelapse cameras, which caught Woody and Adam as they basked together:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26958983" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="640"></iframe><br />
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Although it is not unusual to see adult and juvenile rattlesnakes basking together, Woody's interest in Adam is striking. Does her maternal regard for her offspring's well-being extend beyond the nest? If her mothering is genetic and beneficial to Adam, then such care could evolve. We have seen similar behavior in another female, following a juvenile from the previous year's nest (see <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/01/survivors.html">this post</a> for another example of this behavior).<br />
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Many underestimate the wonders and complexity of the natural world, especially when it comes to snakes. The more we remain open to the possibilities of nature, the more we will be able to see. Even though some of their greatest admirers denied it, rattlesnakes can be caring mothers.<br />
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References<a href="" id="refs"></a>
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de Waal, F. B. M. 1997. <a href="http://discovermagazine.com/1997/jul/areweinanthropod1180#.UPwvGGevyzk">Are we in anthropodenial?</a> Discover 18:50-53.<br />
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Greene, H. W., P. May, D. L. Hardy Sr., J. M. Sciturro and T. Farrell. 2002. Parental behavior by vipers. Pp. 179-205 in G. W. Schuett, M. Hoggren, M. E. Douglas, and H. W. Greene, eds. <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/eaglemountainpublishing/biology_of_the_vipers.html">Biology of the Vipers</a>. Eagle Mountain Publishing, Eagle Mountain, Utah.
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Hinde, R. A. 1982. Ethology: Its Nature and Relations with Other Sciences. Oxford University Press, New York, New York.<br />
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Klauber, L. M. 1997. Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind. 2nd ed. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-30342048229025376572012-11-30T15:16:00.001-08:002012-12-02T18:07:10.240-08:00End Rattlesnake Republic Now!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2799875358/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/529792_3080320566637_1331742159_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption">A western diamond-backed rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus atrox</i>) with his mouth sewn shut for a rattlesnake roundup. Snakes are not under anesthesia during this painful procedure, but instead thrown in a freezer for awhile beforehand so they are too cold to move. Photo by Kim LaForest, courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2799875358/" target="_blank">RARR</a>.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://rattlesnakeawareness.blogspot.com/2012/08/lets-bring-stop-to-rattlesnake-roundups_5.html">Rattlesnake roundups</a> make me sick. What’s a rattlesnake roundup, you ask? <a href="http://rattlesnakeawareness.blogspot.com/2012/08/lets-bring-stop-to-rattlesnake-roundups_5.html">This page</a> has a more thorough description, but in short, they are festivals in which rattlesnakes are tortured and killed in the most inhumane ways imaginable for entertainment and profit. Where do they get hundreds to thousands of rattlesnakes for these events? They are abducted from their overwintering hibernacula (dens) in the spring and held for days to weeks without food and water. Yep, from dens – where snakes <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/sociality">hang out with their friends</a>, <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/02/rattlesnake-sociality-exists-its.html">family</a>, give birth, and <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/maternal%20care">take care of their</a> and <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/10/rattlesnake-helper.html">their neighbors’</a> kids.
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What makes me REALLY angry is that Animal Planet has a show that glorifies the humans that collect rattlesnakes for these horrific events. Yep, Animal Planet. Does that make sense to you? If not, <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/rattlesnake-republic/your-view.htm">LET THEM KNOW</a>. Animal Planet is soliciting comments about Rattlesnake Republic, probably because I and many others have expressed our disbelief and disappointment that they air this trash. Please visit their <a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/rattlesnake-republic/your-view.htm">website</a> and let them know (POLITELY) what you think about Animal Planet airing a show that glorifies the torturing and killing of animals for profit.
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<a href="http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/rattlesnake-republic/your-view.htm" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="79" width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRmdcnC1qTEPutajZ6F8wYhE2zTGEf4fC9Zh0O_I_FDqj8S5f5VAdB6WMc1J5H5hiAZR3Se6l1ANfVgeoMF6lN36ufLllWmHyGaSHd8IvbGxau1l51lGUG6pPXzo_heI0D0RJIn-5DDtM/s200/AP.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here’s the comment I left on their site (feel free to use any of it!):
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<i>You state that “The series is intended to introduce the real individuals who choose to live among the dangerous world of rattlesnakes.” First, the world of rattlesnakes is only dangerous for rattlesnakes and their prey. Second, these individuals that exploit rattlesnakes for profit are hardly living in their world – they are removing rattlesnakes from their world and bringing them into the human world to be tortured and killed for entertainment (and nothing else).
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There are many of us that really do live in the rattlesnakes’ world – we spend time in this beautiful and peaceful place so that we can know more about their lives and share that knowledge with others in order to promote the conservation of rattlesnakes. Why not have a series that introduces those individuals?
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Most people view Animal Planet as an educational channel and Rattlesnake Republic teaches them that this misunderstood group of animals is dangerous and should be exploited for profit. Is that really the message Animal Planet wishes to send?
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In the US, there are relatively few human bites from rattlesnakes (and most of those are to humans who chose to handle them) and almost no deaths. Here in Arizona, we have more rattlesnakes than any other state and roundups have been banned for more than 30 years, yet their numbers have never posed a danger to humans or other animals. There is no legitimate reason to ‘control’ rattlesnake populations, especially by these horrific roundups.
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What rattlesnakes do need is some good PR for a change. Did you know that rattlesnakes are social? Rattlesnakes are choosy about which individuals they associate with and avoid others. Rattlesnakes give birth to live young and care for their kids for at least the first couple weeks of their lives. Sometimes they will take care of their neighbors’ kids as well.
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This is the sort of information an animal lover would expect to see on Animal Planet, not the glorification of animal killers, which is what Rattlesnake Republic is all about.
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Melissa Amarello</br>
www.socialsnakes.org</i>
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Want to do more to end rattlesnake roundups?
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Join us on Facebook:</p>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2799875358/">Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups</a></p>
and</p>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/434734806548086/">Support Snakes and Stop Rattlesnake Republic</a></p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-68543101125677638062012-11-26T11:13:00.000-08:002012-11-26T11:13:24.823-08:00How can you cuddle without arms?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/2012_WEBSITES/DDPS_Snake_Sociality/images/t_sirtalis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/2012_WEBSITES/DDPS_Snake_Sociality/images/t_sirtalis.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the website "How can you cuddle without arms?"</td></tr>
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I was contacted a while ago by a student in the <a href="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/info.html">Animal Behavior</a> class at Reed College. For this class, pairs of students design a website on an animal behavior of their choice and this student was working on social snake behavior.
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Check out their excellent website, <a href="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/2012_WEBSITES/DDPS_Snake_Sociality/index.html">"How can you cuddle without arms?"</a>.
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What a fun and useful assignment! I am totally impressed with this class, but of course you'd expect great things from a class with this on their <a href="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/info.html">homepage</a>:
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<a href="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/syllabus_images/bugmed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://academic.reed.edu/biology/courses/BIO342/2012_syllabus/syllabus_images/bugmed.jpg" height="640" width="508" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-12287982203880738052012-10-17T09:42:00.001-07:002012-10-17T09:42:17.048-07:00Arizona black rattlesnake aggregations exhibit hallmarks of sociality<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NZz63YADlz0/UHiFcapcLJI/AAAAAAAADBM/YrDYA2iteYQ/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_01.jpg" title="1"><img alt="1" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NZz63YADlz0/UHiFcapcLJI/AAAAAAAADBM/YrDYA2iteYQ/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This summer we presented our preliminary findings on social snake behavior at the <a href="http://wch2012vancouver.com/">World Congress of Herpetology</a> in Vancouver, British Columbia. Because our presentation was so well received (we won the <a href="http://www.herpetologistsleague.org/en/">Herpetologists' League</a> Graduate Research Award!), we decided to adapt it for the blog. Enjoy! And we'd love to hear your feedback below, by email, or on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SocialSnakes">Facebook</a>.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-buLOkiZZEWo/UHiFdD_EJKI/AAAAAAAADBU/M2ze9EW8OKg/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_02.jpg" title="1"><img alt="2" hheight="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-buLOkiZZEWo/UHiFdD_EJKI/AAAAAAAADBU/M2ze9EW8OKg/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_02.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E9s01--1gOo/UHiFed3O5HI/AAAAAAAADBc/nayxoRQEKnM/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_07.jpg" title="1"><img alt="7" hheight="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E9s01--1gOo/UHiFed3O5HI/AAAAAAAADBc/nayxoRQEKnM/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_07.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
When someone says social behavior, rattlesnakes are probably not the first animal that comes to mind. However, lizards exhibit a variety of complex, social interactions: stable family group-living, social and genetic monogamy, and cooperation (Chapple 2003, Davis et al. 2011, McAlpin et al. 2011).
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<a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2012/02/13/rsbl.2011.1217.abstract" title="1"><img alt="8" hheight="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Zx4E4IcMWNk/UHiFe3U020I/AAAAAAAADBk/4mX96nlGv7k/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Recently, <a href="http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/clark/Site/Home.html">Dr. Rulon Clark</a> and colleagues documented cryptic sociality in rattlesnakes: pregnant female and juvenile timber rattlesnakes tend to aggregate with their kin. You can download and read the full article <a href="http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/clark/Site/Publications_files/snake_kin.pdf">here</a>.
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We analyzed association patterns to describe social behavior of individual rattlesnakes. Specifically, we investigated two questions:
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jh0HX2snDJI/UHiFgOYJwEI/AAAAAAAADBw/EiLeizRoj4s/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_09.jpg" title="1"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jh0HX2snDJI/UHiFgOYJwEI/AAAAAAAADBw/EiLeizRoj4s/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_09.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Gregariousness is an individual's propensity to be social.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S8nEWLOWebA/UHiFf8jj1JI/AAAAAAAADBs/ViAOsJJwfaI/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_10.jpg" title="10"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S8nEWLOWebA/UHiFf8jj1JI/AAAAAAAADBs/ViAOsJJwfaI/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_10.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rGAEp2yN7Ik/UHiFhErGNNI/AAAAAAAADB8/X8xCbWKvDwI/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_11.jpg" title="11"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rGAEp2yN7Ik/UHiFhErGNNI/AAAAAAAADB8/X8xCbWKvDwI/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_11.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Arizona black rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus cerberus</i>) possess many traits linked to sociality: long lifespan, late maturation, and they <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/maternal%20care">care for their offspring</a>. Important to this study, Arizona black rattlesnakes aggregate (group) at sites they use year after year (philopatric), are mainly diurnal, and phenotypically variable (individuals looked different).
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dzbsWARemS8/UHiFi2I2pBI/AAAAAAAADCE/uwassEV-RqE/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_12.jpg" title="12"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-dzbsWARemS8/UHiFi2I2pBI/AAAAAAAADCE/uwassEV-RqE/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_12.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We used remote timelapse cameras (Wingscapes <a href="http://www.wingscapes.com/timelapse-cameras/timelapse-plantcam">Timelapse PlantCam</a> and <a href="http://www.wingscapes.com/timelapse-cameras/timelapsecam8">TimelapseCam 8.0</a>) to record behavior of rattlesnakes within aggregations. We set up 1–3 cameras at each basking site, and they took photographs every 30 s from ~8am–6pm. We stitched these photographs into videos, which were lumped into day-long sampling periods.
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Here we present results from one basking site (more to come from two additional sites!)
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iHomZxQZuFw/UHiFjxNlG0I/AAAAAAAADCM/ZOaluMwV-lg/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_13.jpg" title="13"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iHomZxQZuFw/UHiFjxNlG0I/AAAAAAAADCM/ZOaluMwV-lg/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_13.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We primarily identified individual rattlesnakes using natural aberrancies in their dorsal patterns (see <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/04/zona.html">Zona's story</a> for more information). When we captured rattlesnakes away from aggregation sites, we painted their rattles, which both assisted in identification and validated the pattern method.
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/35397376?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="640"></iframe>
This is an example of what our data look like, for one site on one day. Rattlesnakes observed within a body length were defined as in association; thus for rattlesnakes to be considered in association, we had to observe them together at least once during a particular day.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kG7i9WFCQHY/UHiFk0SaBqI/AAAAAAAADCU/b50LfCZIHg8/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_15.jpg" title="15"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kG7i9WFCQHY/UHiFk0SaBqI/AAAAAAAADCU/b50LfCZIHg8/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_15.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The next step was to take those observations of associated rattlesnakes and estimate the amount of time they spent together.
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a6G1sEJBnKE/UHiFlJ4qDMI/AAAAAAAADCc/X7BR0Q1vt64/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_16.jpg" title="16"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a6G1sEJBnKE/UHiFlJ4qDMI/AAAAAAAADCc/X7BR0Q1vt64/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_16.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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An association index (AI) estimates the amount of time each pair of rattlesnakes spent together. Because we were not always able to identify every individual in a group, we used the half-weight AI, which is less biased in these situations (Whitehead 2008, Cairns and Schwager 1987). The half-weight AI places more emphasis on the occasions when both animals are observed together than when one is observed without the other.
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-69FG75UszKA/UHiFnp7xDgI/AAAAAAAADC0/dN_aTSMY_GE/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_18.jpg" title="18"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-69FG75UszKA/UHiFnp7xDgI/AAAAAAAADC0/dN_aTSMY_GE/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_18.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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So now we have an estimate of the proportion of time each pair of rattlesnakes at this site spends together. We used the program <a href="http://myweb.dal.ca/hwhitehe/social.htm">SOCPROG</a> to calculate AI's and test our research questions. Because AI's are not independent, SOCPROG implements a version of the permutation test developed by Manly (Bejder et al. 1998). This permutation test shuffled group membership within sampling periods (days) to produce a data set that represented what our data would have looked like if snakes were associating randomly. We then compared our observed data to the random data to see if rattlesnakes associated non-randomly.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1wfi3G_RDg4/UHiFmumLFOI/AAAAAAAADCk/NjeYZEqYHmw/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_19.jpg" title="19"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1wfi3G_RDg4/UHiFmumLFOI/AAAAAAAADCk/NjeYZEqYHmw/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_19.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Our measure of gregariousness was typical group size, or the mean group size experienced by an individual rattlesnake (Jarman 1974). We looked for differences in variation in typical group size (standard deviation = sd) between observed and randomly permutated data generated in SOCPROG.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-18sqwhGINFo/UHiFnX_fvuI/AAAAAAAADCs/GeXc-t5It-o/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_20.jpg" title="20"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-18sqwhGINFo/UHiFnX_fvuI/AAAAAAAADCs/GeXc-t5It-o/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_20.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Gregariousness varied among individual rattlesnakes; some rattlesnakes preferred to be alone or in small groups, while others preferred large groups.
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ujVoyTUWLUg/UHiSto1DPWI/AAAAAAAADDs/gpPXuH5ZR64/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_22.jpg" title="22"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ujVoyTUWLUg/UHiSto1DPWI/AAAAAAAADDs/gpPXuH5ZR64/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_22.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Again, we are looking at variation in AI's between observed and random data. High variation in observed data, relative to random data, means that some pairs of rattlesnakes often associate (high AI) while others avoid each other (low AI).
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oAGxQ1rQz1A/UHiSuDMMZAI/AAAAAAAADD4/_7K8X_ev9vc/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_23.jpg" title="23"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-oAGxQ1rQz1A/UHiSuDMMZAI/AAAAAAAADD4/_7K8X_ev9vc/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_23.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_DrRYl7c8aM/UHszLHitewI/AAAAAAAADEU/8OORZCI3Q98/s912/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_24.jpg" title="24"><img alt="9" hheight="321" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_DrRYl7c8aM/UHszLHitewI/AAAAAAAADEU/8OORZCI3Q98/s912/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_24.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Rattlesnakes are choosy about whom they do and do not associate with. At this site, observed variation in AI was significantly greater than random data overall and among female-female and female-juvenile pairs.
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FivvQ38MLn8/UHiFoe5LjmI/AAAAAAAADC4/drp8yh7ekzU/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_26.jpg" title="26"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FivvQ38MLn8/UHiFoe5LjmI/AAAAAAAADC4/drp8yh7ekzU/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_26.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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So YES - rattlesnakes are social. As mentioned above, we are currently analyzing data from two other basking sites and have a few more ideas to follow up this study:
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<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1b4GHg2M7t8/UHiFpVkWjtI/AAAAAAAADDE/GL6DMUcDca4/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_28.jpg" title="28"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1b4GHg2M7t8/UHiFpVkWjtI/AAAAAAAADDE/GL6DMUcDca4/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_28.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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We plan to use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_network_analysis">social network analysis</a> to describe this population of rattlesnakes,
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jrHMi79QwLc/UHiFp8NZvpI/AAAAAAAADDM/4YSG_uwnqxg/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_29.jpg" title="29"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jrHMi79QwLc/UHiFp8NZvpI/AAAAAAAADDM/4YSG_uwnqxg/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_29.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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investigate how kinship affects association patterns,
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-14NeRFqrWOQ/UHiFrYIcNNI/AAAAAAAADDU/i-hH2iu8dDo/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_30.jpg" title="30"><img alt="9" hheight="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-14NeRFqrWOQ/UHiFrYIcNNI/AAAAAAAADDU/i-hH2iu8dDo/s640/Amarello_Smith_WCH2012_Page_30.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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and because we restricted our analyses to associations between Arizona black rattlesnakes as they emerged from their dens, we're interested in association patterns during the active season and in other rattlesnake species (left: black-tailed rattlesnakes in combat, <i>Crotalus molossus</i>; right: western diamond-backed rattlesnakes 'stacking', <i>Crotalus atrox</i>).
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/47454482?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="640"></iframe>
Our study describes social behavior in a 'non-social' species and may provide information on the evolution of sociality. But more importantly, our findings have the potential to impact conservation of an entire group of misunderstood and often maligned organisms. Humans have an innate fascination with snakes (Burghardt et al. 2009), but unfortunately, this keen emotional response is often appropriated by fear. Pernicious myths and popular media that have long portrayed snakes as malicious villains instill and nurture fear of snakes, which has led to widespread persecution and obstruction to conservation efforts (Seigel and Mullin 2009). In contrast to how snakes are usually seen in the media, recent research on rattlesnakes reveal behaviors that appeal to the general public: parental care (Greene et al. 2002, Amarello et al. 2011), <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/10/rattlesnake-helper.html">cooperation</a>, and social interactions (Clark et al. 2012, this study). By revealing the social nature of snakes, we are starting to change the public's perception of snakes from 'cold-blooded killer' to social creatures with complex family lives and make a positive impact on their conservation.
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<b>References and further reading</b>
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Amarello, M., J. J. Smith and J. Slone. 2011. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2011.6671.1">Family values: Maternal care in rattlesnakes is more than mere attendance</a>. Available from <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/npre.2011.6671.1">Nature Precedings</a>.
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Bejder, L., D. Fletcher and S. Brager. 1998. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1998.0802">A method for testing association patterns of social animals</a>. Animal behaviour 56:719-725.
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Burghardt, G., J. Murphy, D. Chiszar and M. Hutchins. 2009. Combating ophiophobia: origins, treatment, education and conservation tools. Pp. 262-280 in S. J. Mullin and R. A. Seigel, eds. <a href="http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100016590">Snakes: ecology and conservation</a>. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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Cairns, S. J. and S. J. Schwager. 1987. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-3472(87)80018-0">A comparison of association indices</a>. Animal Behaviour 35:1454-1469.
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Chapple, D. G. 2003. <a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/1467016">Ecology, life-history, and behavior in the Australian Scincid genus Egernia, with comments on the evolution of complex sociality in lizards</a>. Herpetological Monographs 17:145-180.
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Clark, R. W., W. S. Brown, R. Stechert and H. W. Greene. 2012. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.1217">Cryptic sociality in rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus horridus</i>) detected by kinship analysis</a>. Biology Letters, doi: 10.1098/rsbl.2011.1217.
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Davis, A. R., A. Corl, Y. Surget-Groba and B. Sinervo. 2011. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1703">Convergent evolution of kin-based sociality in a lizard</a>. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278:1507-1514.
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Greene, H. W., P. May, D. L. Hardy Sr., J. M. Sciturro and T. Farrell. 2002. Parental behavior by vipers. Pp. 179-205 in G. W. Schuett, M. Hoggren, M. E. Douglas, and H. W. Greene, eds. <a href="http://www.eaglemountainpublishing.com/?page=shop/flypage&product_id=214">Biology of the vipers</a>. Eagle Mountain Publishing, Eagle Mountain, Utah. USA.
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Jarman, P. J. 1974. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853974X00345">The social organisation of antelope in relation to their ecology</a>. Behaviour 48:215-267.
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McAlpin, S., P. Duckett and A. Stow. 2011. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0019041">Lizards cooperatively tunnel to construct a long-term home for family members</a>. PLoS ONE 6.
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Seigel, R. A. and S. J. Mullin. 2009. Snake conservation, present and future. Pp. 281-290 in S. J. Mullin and R. A. Seigel, eds. <a href="http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100016590">Snakes: ecology and conservation</a>. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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Whitehead, H. 2008. <a href="http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo5607202.html">Analyzing Animal Societies</a>. University of Chicago, Chicago.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-62704458506290112922012-08-20T11:45:00.001-07:002012-08-20T11:45:40.944-07:00Interspecies interactions aplenty!Friday evening while tracking <a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/jaydin/">Jaydin</a>, we came across an Arizona black rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus cerberus</i>) hunting along an old corral fence.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/7825058480/" title="BeeGee by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="BeeGee" hheight="400" width="600" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8299/7825058480_b160863997.jpg" /></a>
BeeGee, male Arizona black rattlesnake, 17 August 2012 at 630pm.
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BeeGee was still there the following morning, so we decided to put a <a href="https://www.wingscapes.com/">camera</a> on him.
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<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/47792694" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div>
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While we have captured interactions <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/07/sharing.html">between rattlesnake species</a> and with <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/search/label/squirrel">squirrels</a> before, it was pretty exciting to see both in one day!
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What was going on between the Arizona black and western diamond-backed rattlesnakes? We don't know and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. For more information on squirrel - rattlesnake interactions, check out the work done by Rulon Clark's <a href="http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/clark/Site/Current_Research.html">lab</a> and his student Bree's <a href="http://strikerattleroll.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.
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In case the interspecies interactions weren't cool enough, BeeGee also demonstrated his species' ability to change color:
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/7825151384/" title="BeeGee by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="BeeGee" height="400" width="600" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8447/7825151384_4d1a09cbbb.jpg" /></a>
BeeGee, male Arizona black rattlesnake, 18 August 2012 at 9am.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-18797492443369280022012-07-19T19:59:00.000-07:002012-07-19T19:59:04.660-07:00SharingEver since we saw <a href="http://squamates.blogspot.com/p/roger-repps-suzio-report-page.html">Roger Repp's</a> talk at the <a href="http://tucsonherpsociety.org/">Tucson Herpetological Society</a>, <i>Burrow Buddies — or Not?</i>, we've been fascinated by different reptile species sharing shelter sites. Multiple species often share the same overwintering site; we <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/04/just-for-fun.html">shared</a> this fun example here back in April:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="337" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/40731967?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="600"></iframe></div><br><br>
At one of our <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/11/scenes-from-new-den.html">new dens at Muleshoe Ranch</a>, we have seen western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, spiny lizards, Gila monsters, coral snakes, patch-nosed snakes, earless lizards,
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/292131_3343065228983_1700235723_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="450" width="600" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/292131_3343065228983_1700235723_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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Arizona black rattlesnakes,
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<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541335_382659315087913_2061748249_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="450" width="600" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/541335_382659315087913_2061748249_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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and Sonoran whipsnakes (cruising by while an Arizona black rattlesnake sits at the right side of the den opening).
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/541159_382659645087880_454752750_n.jpgg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="450" width="600" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/541159_382659645087880_454752750_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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We've also seen western diamond-backed rattlesnakes and Gila monsters sharing den sites elsewhere:<br>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7604861472/" title="GilaAtrox1 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="GilaAtrox1" height="190" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7604861472_939700a1c4_z.jpg" width="329" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7604853982/" title="GilaAtrox2 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="GilaAtrox2" height="190" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7251/7604853982_318448342c_z.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br><br>
And, lizards that would be prey for rattlesnakes during the active season also share den sites with their potential predators:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7107683103/" title="DSC_3029 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_3029" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/7107683103_165acb1869_z.jpg" width="600" height="400" /></a><br>
An Arizona black rattlesnake (left) and a Madrean alligator lizard (right) rest outside a den.</div><br><br>
But what about during the active season?<br><br><br>
There are probably chance encounters like this:
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<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598839_426028920750952_687696096_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="450" width="600" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/598839_426028920750952_687696096_n.jpg" /></a>
A black-tailed rattlesnake cruises by a resting Arizona black rattlesnake (<a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/boyett/">Boyett</a>).</div><br><br>
<a href="http://snakeresearch.wordpress.com/tag/jaydin/">Jaydin</a>, a black-tailed rattlesnake we are radio-tracking at <a href="http://muleshoe.socialsnakes.org/">Muleshoe Ranch</a>, spent a couple weeks shedding his skin in a particular rockpile earlier this summer. Last week we happened to be walking by that rockpile and even though we knew Jaydin was long gone, we looked underneath to see if anyone else was using it:<br>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7571058832/" title="Juvenile western diamond-backed rattlesnake by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="Juvenile western diamond-backed rattlesnake" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7571058832_efc8cc2b3d_z.jpg" width="600" height="400" /></a><br><br></div>
Sure enough, there was a juvenile western diamond-backed rattlesnake resting under the rock. For whatever reasons, these shelter sites serve the needs of different individuals of different species. In this case the visits by the black-tailed and western diamond-backed rattlesnakes were weeks apart, but what if they needed to use the rock <i>at the same time</i>?<br><br>
A few days ago, a friend took us out to visit some rattlesnake nests. We stopped at a site that was being used this year by Sunny, a pregnant ridge-nosed rattlesnake, but found this little guy instead:<br>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7605472040/" title="Banded rock rattlesnake by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7250/7605472040_a0e9d41b4d_z.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Banded rock rattlesnake"></a><br>
A juvenile rock rattlesnake prepares to shed his skin.</div><br><br>
Where was Sunny? Did she move to a new nest site? Was she resting behind the rock rattlesnake? In more than 20 years of studying ridge-nosed and rock rattlesnakes, our friend has never seen them intermingle, despite the fact that these species are often found in the same habitat. After an unsuccessful check of other sites Sunny has used, we left to visit some other rattlesnake nests.
We returned to Sunny's nest a while later and were greeted with this surprise:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7599718120/" title="Buddies? by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8009/7599718120_b59dee421e_z.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Buddies?"></a><br>A juvenile rock rattlesnake's head peeks out of Sunny's (pregnant ridge-nosed rattlesnake) coils.</div><br><br>
Um, wow! What is going on here? Is this just coincidence or could they be interacting in a mutually beneficial way?
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Through careful observation and using <a href="http://www.wingscapes.com/timelapse-cameras/timelapsecam8">time-lapse cameras</a>, we are seeing more examples of different species sharing sites. This is the first time we have heard of or seen two different snake species coiled together like this. If you have, we would love to hear about it in the comments section below - please share!
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-77239271703785412742012-06-20T18:12:00.001-07:002012-06-21T08:20:05.802-07:00RedEach summer, a friend of ours is visited by a male Arizona black rattlesnake whom she calls Red. Red spends much of the active season hunting near bird baths and feeders (or, in Arizona, 'snake feeders'), patiently coiled and awaiting an inattentive or distracted bird.<br />
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Usually Red turns up in late May, but with summer coming on and no sign of him, our friend was getting worried that a forest fire had been his end. <br />
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Just a week ago, our friend notified us of Red's arrival. And he's back in grand style!<br />
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Rattlesnakes are not known for their climbing abilities, but check out Red:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBur53k7HQzNv0dyr6Kr-RBheppgqQY947sTkaYIQ4DcRqvetWl4sSro8eyoHIgyYnXip_XpOf-s6uHtH459tXsdpzotA9HRJTAW_5U_zr2AQHLX0ePPuigE3dQlh7OrhSVFQhxa_r3Xs/s1600/1.jpg"><img alt="1" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBur53k7HQzNv0dyr6Kr-RBheppgqQY947sTkaYIQ4DcRqvetWl4sSro8eyoHIgyYnXip_XpOf-s6uHtH459tXsdpzotA9HRJTAW_5U_zr2AQHLX0ePPuigE3dQlh7OrhSVFQhxa_r3Xs/s1600/1.jpg" width="267" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3tSK_QePl7oUN7-7TJ6ziw_ChfVbFkwNw93ToUOnOQVD046wFJZpgw_dH9QzA0XmFeFEhc55jHbxEqZHkiJqv8NwZgL7uVlW4cfhcHwEwB0MxSUPrxWjDhBsRiDFQiB2QksOSV_sgK1v/s640/2.jpg"><img alt="1" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3tSK_QePl7oUN7-7TJ6ziw_ChfVbFkwNw93ToUOnOQVD046wFJZpgw_dH9QzA0XmFeFEhc55jHbxEqZHkiJqv8NwZgL7uVlW4cfhcHwEwB0MxSUPrxWjDhBsRiDFQiB2QksOSV_sgK1v/s640/2.jpg" width="267" /></a>
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Red climbs higher and higher...
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3To7zyeAbdFFj4hjhXBJUPtQXyyOHGxdHcjNU8HOVbWVfKLn-m0Ov3XWnRNHzmcv7g8O8zQxy0StPUh8Gj08c_3J5PoKV7F2ZJruTg4uzQPKjBDX6VDb2de2KyqFS36uSYgXE4V5k8ogM/s640/3.jpg"><img alt="1" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3To7zyeAbdFFj4hjhXBJUPtQXyyOHGxdHcjNU8HOVbWVfKLn-m0Ov3XWnRNHzmcv7g8O8zQxy0StPUh8Gj08c_3J5PoKV7F2ZJruTg4uzQPKjBDX6VDb2de2KyqFS36uSYgXE4V5k8ogM/s640/3.jpg" width="267" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBbyTfK9LnBvmNtKJgDmuS2deFC9MLN2FH5YP378fkEB9UjYhuTogkOMNHlz9zsjcX8Bh_sGfFm9Rq5TroekUOGmtXvGIN5B_AFkngQevK0rEEYMvWtx3aw0opJ4hmgxQN48GFc7SmzSn/s640/4.jpg"><img alt="1" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBbyTfK9LnBvmNtKJgDmuS2deFC9MLN2FH5YP378fkEB9UjYhuTogkOMNHlz9zsjcX8Bh_sGfFm9Rq5TroekUOGmtXvGIN5B_AFkngQevK0rEEYMvWtx3aw0opJ4hmgxQN48GFc7SmzSn/s640/4.jpg" width="267" /></a>
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Red tops out on stretch of bare trunk (left) and starts back down (right).
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKAv_V660_UAzWZsppjRdkLA_G1WE6jc30_H_8a9iuW_3CA6FOBaOqyJJQWJK51A5-FaTvhrqknKYMPEmkofWJ2fQ_Pa6yxck5N-wyNiWZedxCrXCfzuW_GAS6CtnMhGTH0wj-Q4nifqk/s912/5.jpg"><img alt="1" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKAv_V660_UAzWZsppjRdkLA_G1WE6jc30_H_8a9iuW_3CA6FOBaOqyJJQWJK51A5-FaTvhrqknKYMPEmkofWJ2fQ_Pa6yxck5N-wyNiWZedxCrXCfzuW_GAS6CtnMhGTH0wj-Q4nifqk/s912/5.jpg" width="500" /></a>
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Red slips safely off the tree.
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Red gets up on some easy limbs, but you can see in the third picture that he has no way to get up the vertical trunk of the oak.<br />
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Why is Red climbing? Is he hunting? Rattlesnakes are classified as ambush hunters, meaning that they find a promising spot (as determined by scent and possibly, as in the case of an elevated bird bath, by sight) and sit and wait for their prey to come to them. Less often will rattlesnakes forage actively, i.e., crawl around looking for prey to eat. He may very well be after a meal up there!<br />
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While our friend hasn't seen any evidence of birds nesting in that tree, she has seen chipmunks using a hole near the top, so they may be nesting inside. Perhaps Red sensed the chipmunks and was trying to get them. If that is the case he is quite ambitious:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiznf7cM3k5Jc_6m0xPeTUrtjgc6ycdNqS45cOYtWVI-souv6faJ-uxXgTm2zd0fqA1yry1lOgwYYgpYAIKSlhlA5j9PzqonlBrWtO_dBHCviCRSPkDyel0yFPu84K9cjd1ahpwYDut7fW/s640/6.jpg"><img alt="1" height="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiznf7cM3k5Jc_6m0xPeTUrtjgc6ycdNqS45cOYtWVI-souv6faJ-uxXgTm2zd0fqA1yry1lOgwYYgpYAIKSlhlA5j9PzqonlBrWtO_dBHCviCRSPkDyel0yFPu84K9cjd1ahpwYDut7fW/s640/6.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
The red arrow points to the spot where Red climbed into the tree. The red circle shows the possible chipmunk nest.<br />
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Our friend was impressed by Red's grace off the ground. Although we have never seen an Arizona black rattlesnake climb higher that a downed log to hunt, we think, if a ladder of limbs permitted, Red would have gone all the way up.<br />
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Thanks to our friend for sharing the story and photos, and to Red for amazing us! <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-68058118810126232362012-06-14T16:38:00.003-07:002012-06-14T16:38:57.126-07:00A tussle at the den?<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxJNWwPhHCNRrtcXPjI1sGzr8sq_eNd3TqA6Iubve1JogERzcjq_7I7MbD7ymxJDG7Tf4wssYcMzuAtaZPep6SqgQ5cTjxTCRZipf8wSzMDyimSHL4LHJ1T2MGZAxusd-DkLpTZrQDfog/s1600/WSCT2744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxJNWwPhHCNRrtcXPjI1sGzr8sq_eNd3TqA6Iubve1JogERzcjq_7I7MbD7ymxJDG7Tf4wssYcMzuAtaZPep6SqgQ5cTjxTCRZipf8wSzMDyimSHL4LHJ1T2MGZAxusd-DkLpTZrQDfog/s400/WSCT2744.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am currently reviewing all the footage from the dens this past spring and will have many things to share very soon (until then, you can see a new timelapse photo almost daily on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SocialSnakes">facebook page</a>). Recently, I came across some rather unusual behavior:
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What's unusual about this? Well, interactions among snakes at our dens usually look like this, where snakes just appear to be resting with each other:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41724419?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe></div>
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So what's going on in the first video? We have never before seen any reproductive activity (male combat or males courting females) at our dens, but we think this might be combat. This timelapse video was taken at 30 second intervals, so much of the fighting action is lost. Also keep in mind, if you've never seen rattlesnakes fight, it's gentler than you might expect (not our video):
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For years people thought that combat, or the so-called 'rattlesnake dance,' was courtship between males and females. Like many animals, rattlesnake combat is largely ritualistic and rarely involves biting. The goal is to topple your opponent, similar to professional wrestling (hence the twisting to be 'on top' in the above video).
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For comparison, here's a male Arizona black rattlesnake courting a female:
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So what do <i>you</i> think is going on in the timelapse video at the top of the page?</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-57165439917160726762012-05-12T11:07:00.000-07:002012-05-12T11:08:32.530-07:00Bluffers & Cowards<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Snakes are first cowards, then bluffers, and last of all warriors</i></div>
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(Pope, C.H. 1958. Snakes Alive and How They Live. Viking Press, New York, NY.) </div>
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Yesterday morning Lula (our dog) and I headed back from tracking our rattlesnakes on a trail through the mesquite forest. Lula was only a step or two ahead, so I couldn't see the trail right in front of me. Mid-step, I saw a western diamond-backed rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus atrox</i>) stretched out across the trail where my foot was coming down. I immediately jumped back but Lula hadn't missed a step as <i>she walked right over the snake</i>. The snake reacted to my jump by assuming the defensive posture seen above and rattling.
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Many believe that rattlesnakes spend their days waiting for a chance to 'attack' us, our children, and our pets. This rattlesnake had the perfect opportunity to attack us, but never attempted to bite. After a minute or two of rattling, it went back about its business:<br /><br />
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Why? From a snake's perspective, <i>we</i> are the predator, the threat, and they are scared of <i>us</i>. A snake's first line of defense is to hope you don't see it (crypsis or camouflage), then attempt to escape (<i>cowards</i>) and/or display (for example rattling, <i>bluffers</i>). If given no other choice, they strike (<i>warriors</i>). And this is supported by numerous studies (for example: Gibbons & Dorcas 2002, Amarello et al. 2008), not just the anecdote presented here. Additionally,
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“50 to 70% of reptile bites managed by the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center were provoked by the person who was bitten--that is, someone was trying to kill, capture or harass the animal.” (<a href="http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/centers/arizona-poison-drug-information-center/venomouscreatures/rattlesnake">Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center</a>)
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So perhaps we have something to learn from the snake: it is in everyone’s interest to leave each other alone.
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Further reading:
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Amarello, M., K. Bonine, and D. Lazcano. 2008. <a href="http://www.public.asu.edu/%7Emamarell//amarello_etal_2008.pdf">Factors influencing the antipredator behavior of Mexican lance-headed rattlesnakes (Crotalus polystictus) toward humans.</a> Pp. 229-234 in W.K. Hayes, K.R.Beaman, M.D. Cardwell, and S.P. Bush (eds.), The Biology of Rattlesnakes. Loma Linda University Press, Loma Linda, CA.
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Arizona Poison & Drug Information Center. <a href="http://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/centers/arizona-poison-drug-information-center/venomouscreatures/rattlesnake">Rattlesnakes</a> (information on venomous snake bites in the USA).
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Gibbons, J.W. and M.E. Dorcas. 2002. <a href="http://srelherp.uga.edu/projects/docs/Gibbons&Dorcas2002.pdf">Defensive behavior of cottonmouths toward humans</a>. Copeia 2002: 195-198.
<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-52657194580687320432012-04-30T15:59:00.001-07:002012-04-30T15:59:52.195-07:00Special, unofficial, guest blogger<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8o3mERuanHYhix4NxBChdYjVNyN36OUoGNiJazlhJN2qqbVEfxSGyaUJ-hJCtSqzm8BPbQBc5IvZZo9eC7S2NZKk8MaxaqLC4fb8Qakg7JSM3CkmwC-L1LZ5mAL_QyFBamkl2IWwm-g/s1600/CRCE_Roger_Pic03_04_21_12.jpg" title="Roger"><img alt="Roger" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8o3mERuanHYhix4NxBChdYjVNyN36OUoGNiJazlhJN2qqbVEfxSGyaUJ-hJCtSqzm8BPbQBc5IvZZo9eC7S2NZKk8MaxaqLC4fb8Qakg7JSM3CkmwC-L1LZ5mAL_QyFBamkl2IWwm-g/s1600/CRCE_Roger_Pic03_04_21_12.jpg" width="600" /></a><br />
Roger, adult male Arizona black rattlesnake named for <a href="http://squamates.blogspot.com/p/roger-repps-suzio-report-page.html">Roger Repp</a> (photo by Roger Repp).
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We've been really lucky to have some fantastic volunteers at the site this spring (and also why I haven't had time to update the blog :-)). One volunteer did his own write up of our adventures last weekend, which I highly recommend reading:
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<a href="http://squamates.blogspot.com/2012/04/suzio-report-off-plot-part-2.html">Serpent Research: Suzio Report, Off Plot Part 2</a>
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You can read more from Roger <a href="http://squamates.blogspot.com/p/roger-repps-suzio-report-page.html">here</a>
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Big thanks to Marty Feldner, Roger Repp, and John Slone for your help!
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-84085620953053692722012-04-30T09:39:00.002-07:002012-04-30T09:48:59.119-07:00Spring stormThis has been a strange spring here at the rattlesnake dens. It has either been unusually hot or like this:
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<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/525573_388622101158301_338801619473683_1308645_1704430171_n.jpg" title="spring storm"><img alt=" spring storm " height="333" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/525573_388622101158301_338801619473683_1308645_1704430171_n.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />14 April 2012</div>
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Last year, we saw a gradual increase in social basking behavior, followed by snakes dispersing for their summer hunting grounds. That process has been halted and restarted twice this year already! But, this site had a very dry monsoon season last summer, followed by a dry winter, so the precipitation is greatly needed here. And the snakes appreciate it as well, even if its accompanied by cold temperatures:
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That morning our cameras caught several snakes drinking the rain, hail, and snow as it fell, but they quickly retreated deep into their dens again. There was little activity for the next few days and you can see why here:
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More on snake activity later! We've seen so many familiar faces already...
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-26977472954257792022012-04-20T15:52:00.000-07:002012-04-30T09:18:05.594-07:00Just for fun!I'm hoping to have some current stuff to post soon, as the snake activity is really picking up right now, but I haven't had a chance to go through our photos and videos yet. So, here's a little something from last year, just for fun!<br /><br />
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A cold storm brought some much needed precipitation (a mix of rain, snow, and hail) to our southern dens last April and an Arizona black rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus cerberus</i>) and striped whipsnake (<i>Coluber taeniatus</i>) took advantage of it to get a drink.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-62619771147094758562012-04-13T15:16:00.000-07:002012-04-13T15:16:54.080-07:00Teardrop & TIE Fighter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/7074778759_8bb2ba04a6_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/7074778759_8bb2ba04a6_b.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Awhile back we dedicated an entire post to the lucky or skillful young rattlesnakes that <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/01/survivors.html">survived</a> their first winter. In this population neonate (newborn) rattlesnakes have less than a month to find their first meal and locate a safe place to spend the winter. Of course it helps when your mom gives birth a couple yards away from her den (overwintering site), as Sigma did.
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10 April 2012: Today we encountered two first year juveniles (rattlesnakes born last fall) near one of the dens, one basking and one hunting. They seemed very familiar, and sure enough, they are the son and daughter of Sigma, famous for her <a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/12/sigma-vs-squirrel.html">interactions with a squirrel</a>.
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/6928699980_627b3bcb34_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="435" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/6928699980_627b3bcb34_b.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
Sigma and Teardrop, 6 September 2011.
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7074779121_f001618f04_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="640" width="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7117/7074779121_f001618f04_b.jpg" /></a></div>
Teardrop, 10 April 2012
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<a href="http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_TIE_Fighter">TIE fighter</a>, 6 September 2011.
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TIE fighter, 10 April 2012.
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Congratulations TIE fighter and Teardrop – you’ve cleared the first major hurdle of your life. We hope to see much more of you in the future.
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Related posts:
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<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2012/01/survivors.html">Survivors</a>
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<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/12/sigma-vs-squirrel.html">Sigma vs. the squirrel</a>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-60240251473656651862012-04-01T13:12:00.002-07:002012-04-01T13:12:44.218-07:00Surprise neighbor<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7033482181/" title="New den by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="New den" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/7033482181_544a1148d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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Back in November, we told you about a new snake den in the Galiuro Mountains (<a href="http://blog.socialsnakes.org/2011/11
/scenes-from-new-den.html">Scenes from a new den</a>). We have been monitoring that den with our timelapse cameras ever since. After a relatively quiet winter, activity is really picking up around here. Based on our fall observations, we knew that western diamond-backed rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus atrox</i>), gila monsters (<i>Heloderma suspectum</i>), Sonoran whipsnakes (<i>Coluber bilineatus</i>), and patch-nosed snakes (<i>Salvadora spp.</i>) visit this den. So we weren't surprised to see this large guy exiting the den on 29 March:
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The rattlesnakes have been pretty active at the den's entrance for the past few weeks, so we knew there were a couple male and female diamond-backeds inside. What we did not expect to see was this handsome fellow:
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Yeah, that's an Arizona black rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus cerberus</i>). The other Arizona black rattlesnakes we're monitoring here are just emerging from their dens and none have moved away yet, so its highly unlikely this guy just showed up at this spot. He probably shared this den with the western diamond-backeds all winter. These species are not often found together and this may be the first observation of the two sharing a den. PLEASE let us know if we're wrong about that - hey, you can use our new facebook commenting feature below!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/7033482181/" title="New den by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="New den" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7203/7033482181_544a1148d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<i>Not</i> your classic Arizona black rattlesnake den :-)
<br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-19711672239795079422012-02-23T10:10:00.000-08:002012-02-24T06:57:01.090-08:00Rattlesnake sociality exists, it's complex, and likely occurs in multiple speciesDrs. Rulon W. Clark, William S. Brown, Randy Stechert, and Harry W. Greene [1] found cryptic sociality in timber rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus horridus</i>). Timber rattlesnakes use communal winter dens and pregnant females aggregate together at rookeries to <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gestate%20">gestate</a> their young. Clark and colleagues collected DNA samples from rattlesnakes to examine relatedness within these aggregations. While all individuals from the same den were not related, aggregations of juveniles of the same age group and pregnant females that shared rookeries were related.
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<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6539565767_dbb62acfca_b.jpg" title="Yellow-man (adult male) with several female and juvenile Arizona black rattlesnakes"><img alt="Yellow-man (adult male) with several female and juvenile Arizona black rattlesnakes" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6539565767_dbb62acfca_b.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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An adult male with several female and juvenile Arizona black rattlesnakes basking just outside their den.
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Timber and Arizona black rattlesnakes are similar in many aspects of their behavior. Arizona blacks also den communally, although this behavior is not restricted to the northern part of their range as it appears to be in timber rattlesnakes [1,2]. Some female Arizona blacks use rookeries at or near their dens, although many nest alone.
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So, are aggregations of Arizona black rattlesnakes related? Or like timber rattlesnakes, perhaps only aggregations of pregnant females and juveniles are related. Or maybe aggregations of Arizona black rattlesnakes are just random groups of unrelated individuals. This is one our research topics, which you can read more about <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">here.</a> Hopefully we'll be able to answer the above questions over the next couple years.
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<ol>
<li>Clark, R.W., W.S. Brown, R. Stechert, and H.W. Greene. Cryptic sociality in rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus horridus</i>) detected by kinship analysis. Biology Letters rsbl20111217; published ahead of print February 22, 2012. <a href="http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2012/02/13/rsbl.2011.1217.abstract%0A">doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.1217</a>
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<li>Brown, W.S. 1993. Biology, status, and management of the timber rattlesnake (<i>Crotalus horridus</i>): a guide for conservation. Herpetological Circular <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Biology-Status-Management-Timber-Rattlesnake/dp/091698429X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330020448&sr=1-1">22</a>.
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</ol>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-40380854769241928212012-02-19T10:06:00.000-08:002012-02-19T10:06:31.189-08:00Drinking<a href="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/395222_2907860707731_1596986153_2535330_1448067668_n.jpg" title="CapMama drinking"><img alt="CapMama drinking" height="480" src="http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/395222_2907860707731_1596986153_2535330_1448067668_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Cap Mama takes advantage of some rain to take a drink of water dripping off the rock above.
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Drinking is a behavior rarely seen in wild snakes. In fact, some would say that snakes don't need to drink. While it is rare to see this behavior, snakes do drink and likely need water in addition to what they acquire from their food. How important drinking is to snakes became very clear to me one day in March 2006 (Repp & Schuett 2008). Despite cold, rainy, windy, and even snowy weather, we saw more than a dozen western diamond-backed rattlesnakes drinking rain and snow outside their dens!<br />
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A poor quality video of rattlesnakes drinking snow during the long, dry winter of 2005-2006. Ugh - glad we have upgraded our cameras!
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Last summer was pretty dry at our field site; the monsoon did not amount to much. In the photo at the top of this post, you can see Cap Mama snagging a drink about nine days after giving birth. The following videos were taken by our <a href="http://www.wingscapes.com/">time-lapse cameras</a> while the snakes were still pregnant:<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36575854?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
This is Cap Mama again, about a week before she gave birth. Shortly after the rain starts, she emerges and drinks rain as it falls on her body.
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/36575853?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
Meanwhile on the other side of this rock outcrop, another pregnant female (Stache) also sneaks out for a drink. Unfortunately there is some grass in the way, but you can still get an idea of what a drinking snake looks like.
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For more information on drinking and water harvesting in snakes, check out this paper:<br />
Repp, R.A. & Schuett, G.W. 2008. <a href="http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1894/0038-4909%282008%2953%5B108%3AWDRCAS%5D2.0.CO%3B2">Western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, <i>Crotalus atrox</i> (Serpentes: Viperidae), gain water by harvesting and drinking rain, sleet, and snow.</a> Southwestern Naturalist 53: 108–114.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-56410870908651414432012-01-29T10:43:00.000-08:002012-01-29T10:45:01.581-08:00SurvivorsIt is always a little sad to say goodbye to the rattlesnake families at the end of the nesting season. It’s a difficult time for the neonates (newborns); in this population they have less than a month to find their first meal and locate a safe place to spend the winter. That’s a tall order for a two week old snake. So when the little ones disperse from the nest, we can never be sure that we’ll see them again. Today, we share stories about some of the lucky (or skillful?) neonates that survived that first winter.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/5984136469/" title="Slide22 by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="Slide22" height="480" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6012/5984136469_81de718a2d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Eve (large brown female rattlesnake) nested with another female, Peach (not pictured), in 2010. Together they cared for about 10 neonates, although Eve was the one most often seen on the surface with the little ones. Above you can see Bozo basking with Eve in August 2010.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/5984700284/" title="Slide23 by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="Slide23" height="480" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6144/5984700284_3571360717_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Fast forward to April 2011, when the rattlesnakes are emerging from their den. Here Eve is captured by our <a href="http://www.wingscapes.com/timelapse-cameras/timelapse-plantcam"> timelapse camera</a> coming out to bask.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/5984700378/" title="Slide24 by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="Slide24" height="480" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6131/5984700378_02fa292fd2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Bozo follows about 20 minutes later. They crawled onto a pile of leaves in the sun:
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26958107?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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After basking a bit with Eve, Bozo gets restless and heads off camera. A little while later, Eve appears to notice he’s gone, searches for and finds his trail (note how her head is tapping the ground), and heads off in the direction he left.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6777793063/" title="DSC_3005 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_3005" height="425" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6777793063_943a4f0b62_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Another neonate from Eve and Peach’s nest we called Dagger. We haven’t thoroughly examined all the footage from the timelapse cameras, but so far, we have not seen Dagger at the dens in Spring 2011. So either we’ve missed him or he did not den with his nestmates, because….
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/6561360629/" title="Dagger by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="Dagger" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6561360629_86669d796f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Dagger was hunting near the dens in late August 2011. He hung around the area for at least a week, trying out several different spots to get a meal. Then on 1 September, our timelapse camera caught him crawling into the rear entrance of <a href="http://socialsnakes.blogspot.com/search/label/Cap%20Mama">Cap Mama’s</a> nest (she gave birth that day).
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6777799081_9e9e8b3a2e_b.jpg" title="dagger"><br />
<img alt="dagger" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6777799081_9e9e8b3a2e_b.jpg" width="320" /></a>
<a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6777797993_454e6aa617_b.jpg" title="dagger"><img alt="dagger" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6777797993_454e6aa617_b.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Unfortunately that is the only footage we have of Cap Mama's nest that day, so we don't know if Dagger interacted with her or the neonates.
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/5984699766/" title="Slide20 by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="Slide20" height="480" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6123/5984699766_196e0a7478_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The photo on the left is of Adam (neonate on left) and Woody (right), his mother. Woody's nest was farther away than most in 2010, about 150 yards from her den. Regardless, Adam found his way to the den where we saw him in April 2011 (photo on right). Our timelapse camera caught Woody and Adam as they basked together that day:
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26958983?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6777959331/" title="DSCN2004 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="DSCN2004" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6777959331_93c8e850e5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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This is Devil Tail, who nested alone at her den in 2010. Shortly after she gave birth, a large male rattlesnake, who also dens here, visited and basked with the family:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/26959563?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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Still image of the group:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6777796887/" title="DSC_3845 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_3845" height="425" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6777796887_f24624a7b7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The adult male is the large black rattlesnake at the top of the image and Devil Tail is the smaller, brown adult (mostly her tail and rattle are visible). Both of the neonates pictured here were seen at the den the following spring (2011).
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/6561377617/" title="C520 by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img alt="C520" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6561377617_3aaee15e09_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Above is '520' in April 2011. Hopefully he'll be <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">adopted and named</a> soon!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36526339@N08/6566363913/" title="unibrau by m.amarello, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6566363913_bc3e76f762_z.jpg" width="425" height="640" alt="unibrau"></a>
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And this is Unibrau in April 2011. Unibrau was <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">adopted</a> by Bill Rulon-Miller - thanks!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522494181/" title="Sigma & Barb by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="Sigma & Barb" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6522494181_40086ba31b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Barb, another of Devil Tail's neonates, is pictured here with <a href="SocialSnakes.blogspot.com/search/label/sigma">Sigma</a> in April 2011. Perhaps nesting right at the den increases your chances of surviving your first winter, because Devil Tail's kids seem to be doing pretty good!
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If you enjoy reading these blog posts, please check out <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">our project on RocketHub and support us financially or by spreading the word</a>. We're raising funds to examine relatedness of this population of rattlesnakes, which will enable us to answer many questions our work has raised, including:<br />
Are Peach and Eve, who nested together in 2010, sisters? Aunt and niece? Mother and daughter?<br />
Was the male that visited Devil Tail the father of her neonates? Their uncle?
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Supporting a research project might sound expensive, but it doesn't have to be. Through <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">RocketHub</a>, you can chip in as little as $5 to help us out. So skip one beer/wine/starbucks and support some cool snake research instead! Plus, you can get some cool snake stuff: rattlesnake photos, greeting cards, or adopt your very own social rattlesnake!
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OK, maybe you don't have $5. But, it only takes a minute to share the link to our blog or <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">RocketHub project</a> on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockethub.com%2Fprojects%2F4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion&t=Support+this+project+on+RocketHub">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/home/?status=Support+this+project+on+RocketHub+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockethub.com%2Fprojects%2F4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">Twitter</a>. You have a minute, don't you? Thanks for whatever you can do to support SocialSnakes!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-42192649556675414332011-12-19T15:00:00.000-08:002011-12-26T12:37:10.416-08:00Support Social Snake Research!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="436" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33829598?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<b>Are snakes social? YES! Do snakes live in groups? SOMETIMES! Are these groups of snakes extended families? Help us find out!</b>
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As a reader of this blog, you already know that rattlesnakes are quite gregarious. Their social lives are complex; <a href="http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2004/02/17-03.html?etoc">they recognize and preferentially associate with their siblings</a>, <a href="http://socialsnakes.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-in-life-of-rattlesnake-family.html">care for their kids</a>, and <a href="http://socialsnakes.blogspot.com/2011/10/rattlesnake-helper.html">even help care for their neighbor’s kids</a>. But the big question remains unanswered.<br />
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Many of us who monitor rattlesnake dens have speculated that they are composed of closely related individuals. Our goal is to explore this idea by examining relatedness with microsatellite DNA markers. <b>With your help, we will find out if dens really are a rattlesnake family reunion.</b> Our research might reveal a previously undocumented, complex social system in snakes and promote snake conservation by highlighting some very human-like behaviors.<br />
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You know you're curious about the relatedness of the snakes you've been reading about here! Check out our project on <a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/4425-snake-dens-a-rattlesnake-family-reunion">RocketHub</a>.<br />
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And spread the word! This can be just as helpful as a financial contribution.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-16236947066455741692011-12-16T16:44:00.000-08:002011-12-27T13:36:18.247-08:00Sigma vs. the squirrelSquirrels and rattlesnakes have a complicated relationship. Some squirrels have developed resistance to rattlesnake venom so that an adult squirrel can survive a rattlesnake bite. Juvenile squirrels cannot, so they are often still prey to rattlesnakes. Because of their resistance, adult squirrels will confront rattlesnakes that wander near their colonies and sometimes even kill them!
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For more information on rattlesnake-squirrel interactions, check out research from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/clark/Site/Current_Research.html">Rulon Clark’s lab</a> and his student Bree Putman’s <a href="http://strikerattleroll.blogspot.com/">blog</a>. Now on to Sigma’s story…
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We first met Sigma on 23 April 2011 when she was basking near her den. She was named for one of her many weird blotches that is shaped like the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigma%20"> Greek letter</a>.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522494181/" title="DSC_0337 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0337" height="427" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6522494181_40086ba31b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Sigma and Barb, 24 April 2011. Barb was born here, to another female (Devil Tail), the previous September (2010).
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6 August: We return to the dens and find Sigma at large rock near her den that will be her nest site. Toward the end of her pregnancy, she settles on the west side of the rock as her main basking area, so we set up a <a href="http://www.wingscapes.com/timelapse-cameras/timelapse-plantcam"> timelapse camera </a> there.
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Between 3 and 4 September, the squirrel appears to be investigating the nest rock, but never when Sigma is on the surface.
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On 5 September, Sigma and the squirrel meet:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522497273/" title="WSPC2058 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC2058" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6522497273_945a0cb53c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Sigma (at end of arrow) emerging for the first time that day
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522503857/" title="WSPC2059 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC2059" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6522503857_ed7af01e27_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
The squirrel confronts Sigma
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522500349/" title="WSPC2060 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC2060" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6522500349_26a024ce00_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Sigma immediately retreats beneath her nest rock
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6 September: Sigma sticks her head out and looks around before emerging (like <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://socialsnakes.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-in-life-of-rattlesnake-family.html%20">Cap Mama</a> ). About an hour later, the first of her four neonates emerge from beneath the rock:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522705453/" title="WSPC2697 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC2697" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6522705453_a8fb1239e4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The following video captures Sigma’s family’s first day together (warning: its kinda long, 4 minutes). Watch for the squirrel’s appearance at 12:14PM. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33829580?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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The squirrel does not return (that we can see) the following day and the family spends most of it on the surface:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522762351/" title="WSPC4661 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC4661" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7013/6522762351_13079a5d7f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6522765289/" title="WSPC0226 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC0226" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6522765289_faf144f2e4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Timelapse video of 8 September: <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33815696?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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What starts as a peaceful day for the family was rudely interrupted by the squirrel at 11:27AM. Just before the squirrel appears in the video, Sigma turns and assumes an S-coil defensive posture typical of rattlesnakes:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6523005759/" title="WSPC0295 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC0295" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6523005759_76bd4d99cc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Sigma at rest with her family
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6523009229/" title="WSPC0296 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="WSPC0296" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7008/6523009229_9b1bd5a419_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
Sigma turns, expands her body to look as large as possible, and assumes a ready-to-strike (S-coil) defensive posture.
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What you can’t see in the video was captured by our overhead camera; Sigma is posturing to the squirrel just off screen:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/68553916@N05/6523000611/" title="MDGC1954 by SocialSnakes, on Flickr"><img alt="MDGC1954" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7147/6523000611_564307b71f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The family immediately disappears; Sigma reemerges only after the squirrel is gone. The first neonate to emerge is quickly chased back under the nest rock by the squirrel (~11:54AM–12:01PM in the video).
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9 September: After the squirrel interactions, the family seems to spend much less time on the surface (at least where the cameras can see). We recorded only one additional, indirect, interaction between Sigma and the squirrel:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/33808478?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ff9933" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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As it often did when there weren’t snakes visible, the squirrel appears to be looking underneath the nest rock. Sigma returns, takes on the familiar defensive posture and appears to be rattling – although it’s difficult to be certain because the timelapse photos were taken at one-minute intervals.
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Our camera continued to record at this location until 18 September and the squirrel returned about every other day, usually looking underneath the nest rock. Sigma and her four neonates were never seen together again, but we cannot say if they changed their behavior or if one or more neonates were injured or killed. One limitation of remote photography is that our knowledge is limited to what happened in view of the camera. However, it is unlikely that any of these squirrel-rattlesnake interactions would have occurred if a human observer was present. We never saw anything like this when we monitored rattlesnake families in person – have you?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-3304023929604683812011-12-09T12:10:00.001-08:002011-12-22T09:48:49.596-08:00Basiliscus Family ValuesYou didn't think that Arizona black rattlesnakes were the only ones to take care of their kids, did you?
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<a href="http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9334" title="Crotalus-basiliscus-08271 by Young Cage"><img alt="Crotalus-basiliscus-08271 by Young Cage" height="480" src="http://www.cagephotos.com/Sonora-Mexico/Sonora-2008/Crotalus-basiliscus-08271/398787056_xnCNY-L.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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In a recent <a href="http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9334">post on the Field Herp Forum</a>, my friend Young Cage describes a series of observations of a family of Mexican West Coast Rattlesnakes (<i>Crotalus basiliscus</i>) . Young is an excellent <a href="http://www.cagephotos.com/">photographer</a>, so the post is worth checking out just to look at the pictures.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8513929259808046271.post-56263005557224900262011-11-18T15:13:00.001-08:002011-11-19T10:45:18.410-08:00Podcast on social rattlesnake behaviorIf you'd like to take a break from reading, but not rattlesnake behavior, check this out:<br />
<a href="http://reptilelivingroom.com/2011/06/rattlesnake-behavior-with-dr-rulon-clark/">The Reptile Living Room: Rattlesnake Behavior with Dr. Rulon Clark</a><br />
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This is a great interview with my friend <a href="http://www.bio.sdsu.edu/pub/clark/Site/Home.html">Rulon Clark</a> about his research, including social behavior of timber rattlesnakes. Dr. Clark is now a professor at San Diego State University, where his lab continues to do cool stuff with rattlesnakes and other reptiles (for example, check out <a href="http://strikerattleroll.blogspot.com/">Strike, Rattle, & Roll</a>).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02579807434350983874noreply@blogger.com0