Watch Out For Reptiles!
Many of the smaller reptiles, like lizards, startle easily and are more difficult to observe in their natural habitat. Observing a rattler might be easier than other animals, for its major senses are its sense of smell, detection of vibration, and heat detection. Much of a rattler's waking hours is consumed by waiting for food. They get their food by sitting and waiting, rather than chasing after their prey. Several nights may go by when no potential prey comes near, and so a rattler needs to be patient. He comes out as the sun is setting and the desert begins to cool, and slides across sand and several rocks until he finds an area that smells strongly of rodents, or perhaps a hunting area that has been successful in the past. The rattler coils up in some low vegetation, or near the side of a rock. The top several inches of his body are not coiled, but have a few shallow bends in his neck so that he can strike quickly when prey comes by. His head rests on his coiled body. If no prey comes by, eventually the rattler's body temperature gets low enough that he needs to make a return journey, and so the rattler will make the return journey at that time. When a small animal appears, for example a desert mouse, the rattler may be alerted by the vibrations made as the mouse scurries along the ground. Its tongue will pick up the scent of the mouse, and there are extremely sensitive organs of smell in the roof of a rattler's mouth. In order to determine where to strike, the rattler uses the pits on its head. These pits determine where the heat source, the mouse, is. If the mouse is slightly too far away to strike, the rattler will slowly and quietly move in a straight line toward the mouse, so that the mouse will not detect any sound or movement. The snake normally does not use the normal side to side motion for stalking prey, as it attracts too much attention. When the mouse is close enough, the rattler strikes. As it strikes, its mouth opens wide and the fangs drop down and forward, so that the fangs point directly at the mouse. As its mouth closes on the mouse, the venom is pumped through its fangs into the mouse. The snake then reopens it mouth and lets the mouse go. After a few minutes the snake assumes the mouse has died, and moves around using its tongue to smell for the location of the mouse's body. If you look at a snake after it has eaten, you can usually see a small (or large) bump that gradually decreases as it progresses into the stomach. The time the snake takes from first noticing the mouse to swallowing it may be as long as an hour. Enjoy learning about rattlers, but if you see one, remember to watch it from a very safe distance. |
Sponsored Ads:Related Articles:
Dogs / Dog Training / Dog Training For Desired Behaviors Cat Training / Litter Training A Cat Cat Training / What Basic Training Does Your Cat Need? Dogs / Dog Diseases / 5 Tips When Dealing With An Injured Dog Dogs / Hound Dogs Dogs / Did You Know That Your Dog Would Absolutely Love A Massage? Dogs / Labrador Retriever Dogs / Training The Intelligent Labrador'S Retriever Reptiles / The Responsible Reptile Owner Cats / Keeping Cats Out Of Your Garden Dogs / Dog Diseases / Treating Your Dog'S Constipation Dogs / Dog Diseases / Mouth & Tooth Disorders: Drooling, Reluctance To Chewing, Misaligned Bite Hypoallergenic Dogs / When To Buy Hypoallergenic Dogs Beekeeping / The Biology Of Bees Dogs / Dog Training / Training Your New Puppy Dogs / Dog Training / Teaching Your Puppy Proper Socialization Skills Also In This Category:
Reptiles - Dangerous Reptiles - Searching For Small Reptiles - Reptiles Have Special Needs - A Day In The Life Of A Fascinating Reptile, The Alligator - What Types Of Lizards Make Good Reptile Pets? - Reptile Accessories And Supplies - Gigantic Reptiles! - Vacation With A Reptile! - Learning About Reptiles - Introducing The Reptiles! - The Responsible Reptile Owner - Rattlers - The Dangerous Reptiles! - Snakes As Reptile Pets - Understanding Reptiles - Which Reptiles Do Not Make Good Pets? Currently Online :Search : |
No comments yet
fruits stings landseer border trees help amount train living size babies sir frightened airline early in pics practice lead with protect heads shows begging ip hobby animals include legs coat harriman wheel emergency remember foods introduce insu blue proteins milk epilepsy hound first balanced high show clothing queens tongue plaque retrievers
Categories: Healthy Dog Dog Diets Obedience Training Boxer Holistic Veterinary Responsible Dog Ownership New Dog Owners Top 5 Deadly Canine Diseases Cats Pet Food Hypoallergenic Dogs Pets Dog Breeds Iguanas Golden Retriever Dog Care Reptiles Beekeeping Cat Training Small Dog Breeds Puppy Training Poodle Dogs Pit Bull Dogs Labrador Retriever Dogs Dog Training Dog Toys Dog Supplies Dog Shows Dog Psychology Dog Parasites Dog Nutrition Dog Grooming Dog Food Dog Diseases Dog Collars Dog Behaviour Dalmatian Dogs Dogs Pet Insurance