Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus) Care Manual
Evidence for Scavenging Behavior in the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
The use of dead and decaying animals for food appears often as an adaptive strategy in birds and mammals but is apparently rare within the reptiles. Scanty evidence exists for the utilization of such a scavenging strategy by rattlesnakes but convincing data gathered under properly controlled circumstances in this regard have not been forthcoming. Western […]
Analysis of the behavioral sequence emitted by rattlesnakes during feeding episodes II. Duration of strike-induced chemosensory searching in rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis, C. enyo)
Eight rattlesnakes (four Crotalus viridis and four C. enyo) were each observed in four experimental conditions: (1) snakes saw, smelled, and detected thermal cues arising from live mice for 3 sec but were not given an opportunity to deliver a predatory strike (the mice were then removed); (2) same as Condition 1, but a strike […]
Zoo and laboratory experiments on the behavior of snakes- assessments of competence in captive-raised animals
Specific experiments on rattlesnake predatory behavior are described. Specimens of taxa bred in zoos are shown to behave qualitatively like wild-caught congeners, suggesting that the captive-bred animals have the skill necessary to hunt in natural habitats. Frequently, wildcaught conspecifics are unavailable for comparison with captive-raised individuals. Although this comparison is desirable, we must develop research […]