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"Black Mask"
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by Mojo on July 18, 2001
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I recently recieved an email from enature.com and it suggested that many venomous species of snakes have a "black mask" on their heads not only for camoflauge but also maybe to deflect UV rays from affecting the potency of their venom. I was curious about the plausability of their findings. What do you guys/gals think? Also do a majority of diurnal venomous snakes around the world have some sort of "black mask"?
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RE: "Black Mask"
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Anonymous post on July 19, 2001
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If I remember right from the 8th grade chemistry experiment using gasoline cans painted and put in the sun, black absorbs light and white reflects light.
Their theory sounds like someone's grabbin at straws.
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RE: "Black Mask"
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by filthy on July 19, 2001
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Well, it sent me around eyeballing the guys. I've always thought that masks and other facial markings simply helped break up the outline of the snake's head. It is worth noting that most well-marked heads appear to be among the ambush preditors. Of course, this isn't always the case. My Timber Rattlesnake's head and face are entirely bald. His cage-mate, and main squeeze, a Canebrake, has a delicate mask.
One of the most complicated head and face markings, in my collection, at least, belong to a beautiful Great Basin Rattlesnake (C. v. lutosus). If she were in an outcrop of grey granite, she'd disappear like magic, right out in the open.
f
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A little more.....
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by filthy on July 19, 2001
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Using facial markings for a UV deflector is patent nonsense. Witness the number of Asian, African, and Austrailian Elapids that have virtually none. In any case, a little UV is not going to effect the chemical composition of the venom, if only because the snake is unlikely to stay out in the sun any longer than it takes for it to become uncomfortable. How the venom would fare in a jar out in the sun is a question I'll leave to those more knowledgable in chemestry than I.
luck,
f
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