Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind

Davidson, Levette J.; Klauber, Laurence M

doi:10.2307/538345

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…Compared to these top three species, the remaining species have substantially smaller size‐corrected values of maximal gape (Table 3). As a result of attaining larger size (Hampton & Moon, 2013; Jayne et al., 2022; Klauber, 1972), Burmese pythons (SVL = 397 cm, observed Gdiam = 22 cm) and western diamondback rattlesnakes (SVL = 200 cm, predicted Gdiam = 6.5 cm) can attain larger absolute values of gape than D . gansi .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Scaling relationships of maximal gape and prey size of snakes for an egg‐eating specialist (Dasypeltis gansi) and a dietary generalist (Pantherophis obsoletus)

Jayne

2023

Journal of Zoology

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The size of both predators and prey can profoundly affect the foraging ecology of animals. This is especially true for snakes which consume prey whole. Although their gape imposes an anatomical limit on prey size, different snake species have a wide variety of prey types, prey sizes, and dietary breadth. To test whether a dietary specialist that only consumes bird eggs (Dasypeltis gansi) differed from a generalist that occasionally eats eggs (Pantherophis obsoletus), I quantified and compared the scaling relationships between overall size, cranial dimensions, and maximal gape and the orientation and mobility of relevant bones. Compared to P. obsoletus with a given overall size, D. gansi had maximal gape areas approximately 3–4 times greater and a significantly larger relative contribution to gape by the intermandibular (IM) soft tissues (50% vs. 19%). The greater distensibility of the IM soft tissues also allowed much greater lateral displacement of the distal end of the lower jaw in D. gansi versus P. obsoletus, but at maximal gape, the bones of these species had unexpectedly similar orientations in lateral view. The large gape of D. gansi was attained despite having a significantly shorter head than P obsoletus for a given snout–vent length. As a result of their large gape and more slender build, the predicted values of relative prey masses (RPM) for D. gansi at maximal gape vastly exceeded those of P. obsoletus for a given prey type. Although eggs are much stouter than rats, values of RPM at maximal gape for D. gansi eating eggs greatly exceeded those for P. obsoletus eating rats. Perhaps, Dasypeltis has the greatest size‐corrected gape and potential values of RPM (for a given prey shape) of any snake taxon as these values of D. gansi exceed those from all previously studied species with similar data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The importance of the distensibility of the IM soft tissues cannot be overstated. Greater IM distension directly enhances Klauber (1972).…”

Section: Factors That Enhance Gapementioning

confidence: 97%

Scaling relationships of maximal gape and prey size of snakes for an egg‐eating specialist (Dasypeltis gansi) and a dietary generalist (Pantherophis obsoletus)

Jayne

2023

Journal of Zoology

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“…To compare the suggested developmental phases for these species, we employed Zehr's 19 embryological stages for Thamnophis sirtalis as a reference. For head scalations, we followed the scale terminology of Klauber 44 and Harvey et al 45 …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Embryonic development of the neotropical pit viper Bothrops atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae), with emphasis on pit organ morphogenesis and its evolution in snakes

Silva,

Guerra‐Fuentes,

Blackburn

et al. 2023

Developmental Dynamics

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BackgroundBothrops atrox is a pit viper with a loreal pit organ, and its embryological development remains undescribed. Here, we provide a comprehensive description of the embryology of B. atrox, focusing on the loreal pit organ and cephalic scales.ResultsWe characterized 13 developmental stages of B. atrox based on external features consistent with the embryogenesis of previously described snake species. The loreal pit organ originates from the circumorbital region and migrates to its final position. In Crotalinae, the pit organ first becomes visible at stage 28, whereas in Pythonidae labial, pit organs appear at Stage 35. Pit organs evolved independently three times in Serpentes, encompassing Boidae, Pythonidae, and Crotalinae. Boidae lacks embryological information for pit organs. Furthermore, we observed that head scalation onset occurs at Stage 33 in B. atrox, with fusion of scales surrounding the loreal pit organ.ConclusionsThe embryology of pit organs in Pythonidae and Boidae species remains poorly understood. Our detailed embryological descriptions are critical for proposing developmental scenarios for pit organs and guiding future research on these structures.

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“…I would like to bring attention to another class of predators that feeds primarily on rodents (including P maniculatus) and that is in need of our protection, namely, snakes. As Dr Joseph Grinnell stated in 1927, "these reptiles are vigorous and effective destroyers of rodents" [2]. Since the mid 1900s, however, the number of snakes, especially rattlesnakes, destroyed in the United States both for the hide and curios trade and for the sake of entertainment at community-sponsored "rattlesnake round-Ups" across the Southeast and Southwest has increased annually.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Snakes as an overlooked natural vector control resource

Norris¹

1999

Wilderness & Environmental Medicine

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Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Scaling relationships of maximal gape and prey size of snakes for an egg‐eating specialist (Dasypeltis gansi) and a dietary generalist (Pantherophis obsoletus)

Scaling relationships of maximal gape and prey size of snakes for an egg‐eating specialist (Dasypeltis gansi) and a dietary generalist (Pantherophis obsoletus)

Embryonic development of the neotropical pit viper Bothrops atrox (Serpentes: Viperidae: Crotalinae), with emphasis on pit organ morphogenesis and its evolution in snakes

Snakes as an overlooked natural vector control resource

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