Snakes are social animals

Lisa · 03-20-04, 02:22 AM

Research has shown that snakes are social animals.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs...209/snake.html

marisa · 03-20-04, 03:14 AM

Well, rattlesnakes are social, but I thought this was something many speculated on for many years, right? Its nice to have some evidence. Maybe this can somehow help out with conservation in some way for the Rattle snake.

Marisa

Bighead · 03-20-04, 03:40 AM

Wasn't really any "new" information in that article, was there?

Jeff_Favelle · 03-20-04, 04:19 AM

I guess that means schools of herring are "pals" as well.

Derrick · 03-20-04, 12:59 PM

of course they are Jeff. I'll refer you to "Finding Nemo" as definative evidence

Oliverian · 03-20-04, 01:17 PM

That's what I was thinking... I'm personally going to need a little more proof, but hey, mabye they're on to something. I think there are other reasons that they 'hang around' together, not really because they are 'social'. I guess we'll see...

-TammyR

marisa · 03-20-04, 01:38 PM

I don't think more proof is in order. Rattlesnakes are social. It's easy to see how this is true. This could help with researching for den sites, and many other things I am not even educated enough to imagine. But it doesn't mean ALL snakes are social. We have all certaintly known Garters are "social" in a way but that doesn't mean ball pythons are.

I'd like to see some research into WHY they would have developed these attachments/social skills, as they certaintly don't need them to survive on an idividual basis.

Marisa

MouseKilla · 03-20-04, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marisa

I'd like to see some research into WHY they would have developed these attachments/social skills, as they certaintly don't need them to survive on an idividual basis.

I'm in no position to say for sure but if I were to guess I would say that some species of snakes make this social adaptation for the same reason other animals do, it gives them a better chance of surviving individually to do so. It may give them certain survival advantages or it may just be a more efficient way of sharing territory making it easier to sustain larger populations in a smaller area.

On the other hand, what do I know? lol! Maybe Garters are just naughty and like group sex. ?

Lisa · 03-20-04, 03:00 PM

mouse killer is on to something, most articals i've read on this have been suggesting that they will stay together for survival, not just food, but mates as well.