Cannibalism of nonviable offspring by postparturient Mexican lance-headed rattlesnakes, Crotalus polystictus

Female vertebrates frequently ingest undeveloped ova and stillborn offspring. Two hypotheses have been proposed to interpret this behaviour: (1) it is a form of parental care, and (2) it recycles otherwise wasted energy, facilitating maternal recovery. Our study of Mexican lance-headed rattlesnakes provides the first quantitative description of cannibalism by postparturient rattlesnakes. We collected gravid […]