Feeding snake

We can distinguish heptachlor from among other types of OCPs it accumulates in slime and hydro-organisms (the accumulation coefficient may reach 1000 and higher), from where it enters other organisms. Thamnophis garter snakes died in North American territories contaminated with heptachlor study showed that those Thamnophis sauritus that died had a heptachlor concentration in their tissues reaching 18.5 mg/kg, while those that survived had no more than 7.9 mg/kg [6]. Heptachlor accumulates in the milk of cows that have eaten feed contaminated by heptachlor [15]. 

Brock, E.M. 1965. Toxicological feeding trials to evaluate the hazard of secondary poisoning to gopher snakes, Pituophis catenifer. Copeia 1965 244-245. 

Burghardt, G. M. and Pruitt, C. H. (1975) Role of the tongue and senses in feeding of naive and experienced garter snakes. Physiol. Behav. 14, 85-194. 

Halpern, M. and Frumin, N. (1979) Roles of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems in prey attack and feeding in adult garter snakes. Physiol. Behav. 22, 1183-1189. 

Wilde, W.S. (1938) the role of Jacobson s organ in the feeding reaction of the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis. J.Exper. Zool. 77, 445—465. 

Feeding behavior Brown tree snake Responds strongly No Yes D. Chiszar,... 

The VNO plays an important role in feeding behavior in garter snakes (Halpern and Frumin, 1979). Lizards also appear to use their VNO for food detection. Examples are the scincid lizard Chalcides ocellatus Gnves and Halpern, 1990) and the desert iguana D. dorsalis (Cooper and Alberts, 1991). The latter... 

Reptiles Garter snakes Thamnophis Feeding Response to earthworm Halpern eta/., 1985... 

Table 9.1 The shaping of feeding behavior in garter snakes...

Frogs of the genus Dendrobates are ant specialists. Of the more than 20 structural classes of lipophilic alkaloids found in the frogs, six occur in myrmicine ants. However, many dendrobatid alkaloids such as the batrachotoxins, histri-onicotoxins, and pumiliotoxins, have not yet been found in insects and other leaf-litter prey such as beetles and millipedes (Daly et al., 2000). The snake Lio-phis epinephelus feeds on Dendrobates and may further bioaccumulate alkaloids. 

The blind snake Leptotyphlops dulcis is a specialized burrower that feeds on termites and ant brood. It follows the ant pheromone trails to find its prey (Section 12.1). when attacked by ants, this snake tilts its scales individually so that the skin appears silvery. While it writhes, it covers itself with feces and a clear viscous fluid, discharged from the anus. It may also assume a stationary coiled position. when it resumes searching and feeding, it is no longer attacked by ants. The effect lasts from 3 to 30 minutes (Gehlbach etal., 1968). Here a predatory species protects itself from the defensive actions of its prey. 

Dead mice are as attractive as live mice, and dead mouse odor is as active as a dead mouse (Shivik and Clark, 1997). Elucidation of the feeding stimuli used by this species will aid in effective trapping for snake control. Fractions of dead mouse odor are being bioassayed. The best known constituents of rotting carcass (e.g. fish) odor, putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane NH2CH2CH2NH2) and cadaver-ine (NH2CH2CH2CH2NH2) were not active. 

Blind snakes find their prey by using the prey s pheromones. The wormlike Texas blind snake, Leptotyphlops dulcis, of the southwestern United States leads a subterranean life and feeds on termites and ant brood. It finds ants by following their pheromone trails (Gehlbach etal, 1968). Other blind snakes such as the American blindsnake, Typhlops pusillus (Gehlbach et al, 1971), and the Australian blindsnake, Ramphotyphlops nigrescens (Webb and Shine, 1992), also follow odor trails of ants, their prey. Texas blind snakes are attracted to the simple alkaloid skatole (methyl indole Fig. 12.4), an amine with an unpleasant odor from the ant Neivamyrmex sp. (Watkins etal, 1969). 

Arnold, S. J. (1978). Some effects of early experience on feeding responses in the common garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis. Animal Behaviour 26,455-462. 

Fuchs, J. L. and Burghardt, G. M. (1971). Effects of early feeding experience on the responses of garter snakes to food chemicals. Learning and Motivation 2,271-279. 

Animal toxins are roughly divided into venoms and poisons. Venoms are offensive, used in the quest for food. Snakes produce toxins that can immobilize or kill prey for food. The venom of spiders paralyzes insects to allow the spider to feed on the victim s body fluids. While the venoms may also be used defensively, their primary purpose is in the quest for food. Most venom is delivered from the mouth, as in snakes and spiders, but there are exceptions like the scorpion that uses its tail. 

Mammals are often overlooked for their pest-control abilities. For example, in Canadian forests, shrews control larch sawflies and other pests. Lizards and toads are important natural enemies of pest insects, and snakes can help control problems with mice and voles. In many communities in Europe and North America, farmers encourage birds to control pests by placing nesting boxes around their fields. Even domesticated animals can assist in pest control. If you have a small orchard and keep chickens, let the chickens feed in the orchard. They will peck pests such as plum curculios out of dropped fruit and other ground litter. 

Cottonmouth Cottonmouth are partly aquatic, living in or near water and feeding mainly on fish and amphibians. These poisonous snakes are usually not aggressive unless agitated or threatened. When angered cotton-mouths will coil their bodies and expose a fully opened mouth as if ready to bite. The... 

These snakes occupy a variety of habitats including pond and stream edges, wetlands, forests, fields, rocky hillsides and residential areas. They are often observed as they bask on rocks, wood piles, stone walls, and hedges. Although they feed on a variety of small animals, primary prey are earthworms and amphibians. 

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