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I'm hangin' with Jaffo on this one.....
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by filthy on May 15, 2001
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Defensive postures are study in themselves, and fascinating. There are few animals in the world that look more ferocious than a cornered, Banded Watersnake (Nerodia f. fasciata). And aside from a fairly messy bite and some really foul musk, utterly harmless.
No snake will willingly waste venom, thus the fair number of dry bites we hear of (I should be so lucky). An envenomation with anything but prey, from the snake's point of view, is a last-ditch defense in a fight for it's life. Even spitting falls into the "last ditch" catagory. Of course, some snakes are more easily "cornered" than others.
As for the colors, all Rattlesnakes have the ability to virtually dissappear into the background of their habitat, even the more colorful ones. This holds true for the large and small Vipers. Cobras too, are colored to fit in with terrain. These truly dangerous snakes don't become obvious until they feel threatened. Then they become VERY obvious, rattling, hissing, hooding, flattening out to appear even bigger and badder, and so forth.
Snakes such as the Eastern Coral, while having very potent venom, have difficulty injecting it into anything much larger than their prey - small heads and short fangs. Snakes such as these seem to be the ones wearing the "warning" colors and patterns. I find this interesting in that every Coral I've caught never tried to bite. Are they so secretive that they have evolved over-confidence? Or do the bright colors actually work and most preditors leave them alone as they do the Poison Arrow Frogs? I think the latter, although that also sounds like over-confidence.
I think the Coral came first - it does have a nasty bite when it chooses to bite - and the Scarlets and Kings and Milks, knowing a good thing when they saw it, followed suit.
Interesting thought.
f
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RE: you're right
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by TIMFRIEDE on May 15, 2001
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How come Dendroaspis has no enzymes, who the hell knows man. A complete crap shoot, beyond human intelligence. Why? End of story. Luv you all. NOT.Lets talk on the other side. Why does a lion have a mane? Tim.
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RE: I'm hangin' with Jaffo on this one.....
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by TIMFRIEDE on May 16, 2001
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They knew shit Phil, you're lookin to hard, they don't know squat. Luck of the draw dude, life is not that complex. It's a crap shoot. Tim
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Rattlesnake colors.
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by Jaffo on May 16, 2001
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Excellent point filth.
Maybe that's a big reason rattlers developed rattles. They often sit right out in the open in ambush, and maybe the rattles are a way to alert animals from missing them. But then again, I have never had a rattler compromise their location while in "ambush mode".
Thanks for the info Brryan-- great stuff. You have enlightened me and reminded me of other points I had forgotten about.
So, now--- what the hell is up with the platypus????
It is interesting stuff alright. Where the hell is Bigfoot in all this. This is the best damn discussion I've been a part of in a long time. I figured he'd be teaching us stuff by now.
Jaf
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Oh yeah-- the snakes "knew a good thing when
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by Jaffo on May 16, 2001
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Hey filth-- How did the milks and scarlets "know" to change? How do those chameleons "know" to look like a leaf? How did milk snakes that are nowhere near the closest ranging corals "know" to look similar to corals?
Aren't coral snakes still predated? Wouldn't that provide a unique liability to any mimics out there?
Keep in mind filth, these are just questions I have. SOmetimes I think the suggestion of evolutionary intelligence is a little out there. People are indeed reaching with these theories because there isn't much else to do about it. That's why it's great discussion material... until someone mentions "creation". LOL.
Yeah Tim-- a crap shoot alright. LOL.
Man that's good stuff.
Jaf
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RE: Rattlesnake colors.
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by TIMFRIEDE on May 16, 2001
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One thing dudes, were all worm shit, don't forget that. I learned that when my second kid died, and my best friend. Don't forget that kids. That's in two years bro's. And you think a bite is bad, SHIT, that's nothin. That's my peace, been died, no big deal. Tim
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Whoa
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by Jaffo on May 16, 2001
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Damn dude-- way to liven the party.
You have definitely put things in perspective. I feel for ya.
Now answer my questions dammit.
Jaf
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RE: Whoa
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by TIMFRIEDE on May 16, 2001
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Jaf, I've been around the block bro, bigger the shit, and Ive failed bigger then shit. I'll admit this to you and you only. When you lose a kid, you become a hard core MF'er, no one else matters, OH, I wonder why Tim's an ass. Do you see my point bro,m don't give a F., Don't ever get there my friend. Take care of the wife dude, don't F that up. And my wife wonders why I handle Dendroaspis like I do. Good luck my friend, Tim
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RE: Oh yeah-- the snakes "knew a good thing w
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by biff on May 16, 2001
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well, i wasn't going to say anything, but since it's been brought up...i don't buy the evolution thing...it takes too much faith, creation makes a lot more sense. a little off topic, but then this thread...
my .02
steve
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Sas, I got to hand it to ya......
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by filthy on May 16, 2001
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The forum hasn't had this much life since the day one!
Here's hoping you stick around! Love it!!!
As to Jaffo's questions and the others, hell, I don't know. I'm good, but not that good.
And I wouldn't touch the evolution / creation ruckus with clean stick. All of the ranting in the world has never changed anyone's mind on either side. But to set the record straight, I'm an agnostic.
Tim, I grieve. As you say, it's all a crap-shoot. But sometimes the loads in the dice select a winner or loser in unlikely places.
All luck, everyone.
f
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