By Lisa Swearingen<\/p>\n
Snakes. Some people cringe at even the thought of this creature. The slithering reptile is, for some, a symbol of evil incarnate, eagerly awaiting their next prey, ready to strike on a dime.<\/p>\n
But those notions were dispelled during a spring science lecture on campus.<\/p>\n
Professor Terrence Farrell and his crew at Stetson University, who are interested in underdtanding more about these creatures, brought their findings to DSC at the seminar. Their recent venture focuses on the ecology of Florida\u2019s dusky pigmy rattlesnake.<\/p>\n
Farrell, professor of biology at Stetson University, conducts research with his students in two main areas: ecology and behavior of reptiles and box turtles; and another study focuses on marine invertebrates. Due to the area of study, Farrell and his crew have dubbed themselves: \u201cThe Pig Team.\u201d<\/p>\n
To help Farrell and his research team study snakes while the crew is not able to observe them up close, they use something called a \u2018pick tag\u2019 which is inserted inside of the snake so they can keep track of what is going on in the life of the chosen reptile.<\/p>\n
At the seminar, Farrell produced slides of the dusky pigmy rattlesnakes, plus others which included the coral, diamondback and water moccasin. Although most of these snakes are venomous, the pigmy rattler is less potent. They are found throughout the southeastern United States and vary in color depending on location.<\/p>\n
Farrell said, \u201cThe good news is that they\u2019re not typically found in neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n
He notes a few reasons for studying pigmy rattlers and other snakes is because of the \u201cecological importance\u201d and the best time to \u201cseek them out is after flooding.\u201d<\/p>\n
During the hour-long lecture, Farrell discussed many traits and lifestyle patterns of the pigmy rattlesnakes such as their eating habits and habitation.<\/p>\n
Snakes have no sternum, but a person can run their fingers down the front of a snake\u2019s body, spread the ribcage and feel if they have \u201cprey items\u201d in their stomachs. If females have developing eggs within the womb, a person can also tell by performing this process. They can also feed on lizards, frogs, and, on \u201crare\u201d occasions, birds and mice.<\/p>\n
Farrell also spoke of a method called strike and predation. This procedure involves the snakes lying in wait for the \u201cunlucky\u201d prey. For example, if a pigmy is hiding, beneath a log or somewhere else, and is trying to be incognito, a rat or lizard might brave the trek along the wooden plank.<\/p>\n
Without warning, a rattler strikes, sinking its fangs into the other animal, but only allowing very little venom to seep through. The snake then allows its prey to wander away, slowly and staggering, until they are overcome by the effects of the poison. The pigmy snake then proceeds to wait for the right moment to make the move, sticking their tongue out, using smell, and strike the prey. One of the reasons snakes do this is because some rats and other creatures with teeth can fight back viciously. The\u00a0strike and predation process halts this struggle. Then it\u2019s mealtime. If snakes do not use this technique, constriction or other forms of attack are issued. Snakes can rarely move after eating something large. These snakes can eat up to 90 percent of their body mass. They typically eat smaller things, but 40 to 50 percent of the time larger items are consumed.<\/p>\n
Farrell said: \u201cImagine if you weigh 120 pounds and you try eating a 40-pound hamburger without chewing it up and without using your hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Studying the growth and aging of a snake is an extensive process. Some snakes don\u2019t even grow at all. These snakes frequently starve to death and females don\u2019t typically reproduce. Ones that are fed well or live in more efficient conditions tend to improve their maturity level. It takes about three or four years to get to adult size. Younger snakes have lighter tails whereas the tails of older snakes are darker in color. Older snakes will coil up on top of their tail. A snake will begin to tick-tock their tails, luring prey to them instead of having to make the effort themselves. Once the prey items get closer, they proceed to attack.<\/p>\n
The team frequently found mating or \u201ccourting\u201d pairs of snakes. Pregnant snakes give live births. The babies begin to breath and are able to strike the minute they\u2019re born. The team took temperature monitors, focusing on the location of pregnant females, and found that these snakes prefer 90-degree weather. Male snakes have two different chromosomes, not the females, like in humans. The research shows that most babies are born in or around August. Older females don\u2019t have more babies. Females store the sperm from many different males and could very well have offspring from many different males.<\/p>\n
When babies begin to shed, they begin to move away from their mother. Some experiments separate the babies from their mother to see if they move to be near each other. The advantage to be with the mother is protection. Farrell also said snakes are social, can learn and the females are good mothers, not just \u201ccold-blooded\u201d killers.<\/p>\n
The research team has done studies on the rattle of the snake. The function of the rattle is a warning, basically telling prey and people that they\u2019re dangerous. The rattling noise is made by loose segments that slide across and slam into the other segments. Pigmy snakes are unusual in their rattling process because they are incredibly quiet rattlers. If an individual can actually hear a pigmy rattle, then that person is probably in danger of being bitten because they\u2019re too close.
\nShedding of a rattle also gives the research team a good idea of how old the pigmy is. The crew can also get a good idea of what the snakes eat by looking at rattle segments.<\/p>\n
Farrell said the research conducted by his team and other students has shed light about the sociology and scientific method associated with snakes and their way of life.<\/p>\n
Sarah Allred, fine arts major, said, \u201cThe more I know about something it can make me feel not so scared. I really don\u2019t know anything about pigmy rattlesnakes. If they\u2019re poisonous, I can tell you one thing, it doesn\u2019t matter how much I would know about them I would be just as scared. I think snake research would be very beneficial for safety\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Lisa Swearingen Snakes. Some people cringe at even the thought of this creature. The slithering reptile is, for some, a symbol of evil incarnate, eagerly awaiting their next prey, ready to strike on a dime. But those notions were dispelled during a spring science lecture on campus. Professor Terrence Continue reading Snake research rattles its way to understanding<\/span>