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1990 Natural History Note: Viridis Viridis (Prairie ). Predation. Brent Graves [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Graves, Brent, "Natural History Note: Viridis (Prairie Rattlesnake). Predation." (1990). Journal Articles. 308. http://commons.nmu.edu/facwork_journalarticles/308

This Journal Article is brought to you for free and open access by NMU Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal Articles by an authorized administrator of NMU Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. More potential refuges seemed to be availa- food are fairly common, observations of prey year old) observed on 13 October 1988 in the ble to the second skink. In addition to the capture are rare, and consequently foraging Museo de Historia Natural, Facultad de Cien- large board near which I first saw it, yucca modes are poorly known (Siegal and Fitch cias Biologicas, Universidad Autonoma de and other terrestrial vegetation was available 1984, Oecologia 61:293-301). Nuevo Le6n, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo a few meters up the gentle slope from the My observations were made on 3 January Leon, . The were siblings and pond. In both cases, algae and other aquatic 1989 in Everglades National Park () at were housed in a 5 gallon covered container vegetation obscured my view into the water. the boardwalk in Mahogany Hammock. Habi- laterally perforated. The male had an SVL of Both times I felt around on the bottom of the tat was open mature subtropical hardwood 523 mm; CL = 38 mm; mass = 111.2 g, and the water but was unable to locate either skink, hammock. Filtered sunlight reached the female presented SVL = 435 mm; CL = 25 mm; and did not see either one return to land. ground in several spots in the area snakes mass = 101.3 g. The temperature in the con- were observed. Shade temperature on the tainer was 26° C. Copulation began at 0900 h Submitted by LAUREN J. LIVO, 1215 S. boardwalk at 1400 h was 27.4° C. and ended at 1726 h. The female shed before Osceola Street, Denver, CO 80219, USA • At 1346 h we heard a racer (ca. 100 cm SVL) copulation; the male shed after copulation. emerge from a cabbage palm 6 m W of the We suggest that ecdysis of the female stimu- elevated portion of the boardwalk. It foraged lated copulation in a manner similar to that UTA PALMERI (San Pedro Side-blotched ca. 17 m in 13 min over a slightly circuitous reported for adult snakes. In , preco- Lizard). CANNIBALISM. Cannibalism in path, passing under the boardwalk, and finally cious sexual behavior has only been observed iguanid lizards, which typically are insecti- investigating and disappearing into an ele- in turtles (Kramer 1987. Joint Ann. Meet. vorous or herbivorous, is infrequently re- vated cavity in a strangler fig at 1359. , Mexico. Programs and Abstracts). ported (Polis 1981. Ann. Rev. Ecol. Syst. At 1401 h a slightly larger racer (ca. 105-110 We thank David Lazcano for providing 12:225-251; Polis & Myers 1985. J. Herpetol. cm SVL) emerged from an upturned stump information, and Ivan Parra and Lea An- 19:99-107), although in some populations it about 10 m S along the boardwalk from where dersen for criticism and suggestions. has been observed frequently (J. Stamps, the first disappeared. It basked briefly pers. comm). and then foraged 6 m S along the boardwalk. Submitted by MANUEL NEVARES, Facul- On 15 April 1987 we observed an incidence At 1412 the racer dashed forward after a tree- tad de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad of cannibalism in the insular endemic iguanid frog. The frog jumped from the leaf litter to ca. Autonoma de Nuevo Le6n, San Nicolas de los Uta palmeri by an adult male (75 mm SVL) on 0.5 m up a treetrunk, and thence immediately Garza, Nuevo Le6n, Mexico, and ADRIAN a juvenile (ca. 40-50 mm SVL). We first ob- to leaves of an adjacent shrub. The racer QUIJADA-MASCARENAS, Escuela Superior served the adult carrying the limp body of the simultaneously turned from the treetrunk and de Ecologia, Centro de Estudios Superiores juvenile, biting it at the middle of the trunk. cleanly picked the frog from leaves ca. 0.7 m del Estado de (CESUES), Calle Ley The male then carried the body several m, off the ground. The snake moved immediately Federal del Trabajo, Col. Apolo. Hermosillo, disappearing under a rock for less than ten to a sunny patch and basked in a loose coil for Sonora, Mexico • sec. He was next seen biting the body by its 14 min (until 1429). It then foraged an addi- tional 6 m S, climbing into a palmetto and head and, after a few seconds, he began CROTALUS VIRIDIS VIRIDIS (Prairie Rat- onto the boardwalk. At 1439 it dashed down engulfment. His forelimbs were not used to tlesnake). PREDATION. Among viperids, the palmetto and seized another fleeing tree- assist in engulfing the body, but we observed mark-recapture studies have suggested that frog. Foraging resumed immediately, and the small, side-to-side head movements during survivorship of young snakes is low, however, snake vanished into a thicket at 1441. this period. little information is available concerning Both treefrogs were brown and ca. 2.5-3 cm The frequency of cannibalism in U. palmeri causes of such mortality. The following SVL, and thus were probably is unknown. Wilcox (1980. PhD Dissertation. Hyla squirella, observations concern prairie which I have seen in this hammock. In both University of , San Diego) observed that overwintered in a perennially occupied cases the frog was swallowed less than 5 sec an adult male carrying a dead juvenile, but hibernaculum in Coal Creek Canyon, Carbon after capture. The second frog managed to was unsure if subsequent ingestion occurred. County, in the spring of 1986. emit a single squeak before being swallowed. We and our coworkers have conducted over These were captured as they I estimate that the foraging racers covered 31 3,000 man-hours of observation on U. palmeri emerged, transported to camp for SVL and linear meters in 25 minutes of movement during two-month field seasons in three dif- mass measurements as well as radio teleme- (1.24 m/min). Both crawled steadily while ferent years (not always the same months ter implants (X mass of telemeters = 3.4 g, darting the head side to side in arcs ca. 15 cm each year), and have seen only this one case range = 3.1 - 3.5 g), then returned to the den wide. They would occasionally stop to inves- of cannibalism. However, only the 1987 field site for release. tigate an area more extensively, probing season coincided with a period when hatch- On 27 May at 1130 h a 14.9 g, 28 cm snake quickly into the leaf litter or investigating a lings and very small juveniles were abun- which had a transmitter implanted surgically log or stump. No rapid movements were seen dant on the study grids. on 7 May was found dead and being eaten by except the two strikes at prey. U. palmeri is substantially larger in body many ants (Formica spp.). It had moved 57 m Over 40 people walked within 2-4 m of the size than other Uta (Ballinger and Tinkle south between 2045 h on 25 May and 1620 h two snakes from 1346-1441, and two walked 1972. Misc. Pub. Mus. Zool. Univ. Mich. 145:1- on 26 May. On 28 May at 2000 h a 14.0 g, 27 cm past while the second snake was on the 83) with adult male body size ranging from snake which had a transmitter implanted sur- boardwalk. Neither responded visibly 70-80 mm SVL (Hews, unpublished data). gically on 3 May was found dead and being to the other. The snakes seemed conditioned Hatchling size ranges from 27-32 mm (N=7) eaten by Formica. This snake had moved 35 to ignore the steady human traffic, allowing (Hews, unpublished data) and thus a large m east between 1415 and 2000 h on 28 May. us to make these observations. disparity in size between adults and small On 30 May at 1700 h an 18.2 g, 30 cm snake juveniles might facilitate cannibalism in U. that had a transmitter implanted surgically on Submitted by PHILIP C. ROSEN, Depart- palmeri. 28 May was found with its transmitter wedged ment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Submitted by DIANA K. HEWS, Depart- between a rock and a sagebrush. Many For- University of , Tucson, AZ 85721, ment of Zoology, The University of at mica were on the snake and biting it, and USA • Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA and JEFFREY there was a column of ants traveling between C. DICKHAUT, 3822 Hope Lane, Erlanger, KY the snake and an ant mound. The snake was 41018, USA • alive, although it responded very sluggishly SCUTULATUS. to tactile stimuli. The snake had moved 36 m (Mojave Rattlesnake). MATING BEHAVIOR. southeast between 1000 h on 30 May (when it SERPENTES We have seen references to the minimum was released) and the time of the above length of the gravid rattlesnake (Klauber, observation. Many ants clinging to it by their COLUBER CONSTRICTOR PALUDICOLA L.M. 1972. Rattlesnakes. Univ. Calif. Press, mandibles were removed manually and the (Everglades Racer). FORAGING. Two adult pp. 175-176). However, we have no know- snake was returned to camp where it died racers were observed employing widely search- ledge of reports that indicate the minimum during the night. On 4 June at 1940 h a 9.0 g, ing foraging behavior. Although reports of age or length for copulation. This is a report 31 cm snake that had a transmitter forced into diets and accounts of wild snakes swallowing of the copulation of two juveniles (both one its stomach on 2 June was found dead and

Herp Review 20(3), 1989 71 being eaten by Formica. The snake was 30 cm I am indebted to John F. Lokke for provid- The weather was cloudy and rainy with the air from a large Formica colony. It had moved 48 ing me with the snake and its breeding history. temperature at 21°C. Upon capture, the snake m southeast between 1020 h (when it was was placed in a cloth sack and held for ca. one released) and 1515 h on 4 June, and another Submitted by LOUIS A. SOMMA, Depart- hour. Prior to release, the snake was handled 76 m south by the time of the above obser- ment of Zoology, University of Florida, Gaines- extensively by the class; yet it made no vation. ville, FL 32611, USA • attempt to bite and little effort to escape. These four observations suggest that ant While being handled the snake became limp. predation on small rattlesnakes may not be LOXOCEMUS BICOLOR (Burrowing When released, it pushed its nose into the uncommon. Although in three of the fou Python). SIZE. Wilson and Meyer (1985. substrate, twisted its head and protruded its instances snakes were found dead (and thus Snakes of . Milwaukee Public tongue in a manner similar to that of the hog- could represent instances of scavenging Museum, Milwaukee. 150 pp.) list Loxocemus nose snake (Heterodon sp.) (Ditmars 1936. rather than predation), the snake found on 3(1 bicolor as having a maximum recorded total The Reptiles of North America, 291-292). May was alive, currently being attacked by length of 130.9 cm. When turned on its back it demonstrated ants, and died later presumably from toxins In the Dr. Rafael Lucas Rodriguez National fighting reflexes, but continued to tilt the delivered via ant bites. Also, all of the snakes Wildlife Refuge (Palo Verde), (10° head and leave the tongue out, rolling in the made lengthy movements (compared to mean 21'N; 85°21'E), eight live individuals of L. dirt. After ca. ten minutes of this behavior the daily movements for all neonates tracked in bicolor were measured during March and snake was moved to tall grass and observed. the spring of 1986 was 3.7 m; SE = 3.9; Graves, April, 1984. Their SVL measured to the near- Two minutes elapsed before the snake began B. M. Unpubl. Ph.D. dissertation, University est 0.5 cm in order of capture were: 1) 121, 2) to crawl away slowly. of Wyoming, Laramie) immediately prior to 127.5 (UCR9376, female), 3) 129 (UCR8787, This snake's actions may be due to its their deaths, suggesting that they were in rel female), 4) 115, 5) 141.5 (UCR9375, female), depressed body temperature, which would atively healthy states and that their move 6) 75, 7) 79.5, and 8) 76.5. UCR initials indi- make any behavior requiring speed (e.g. bit- ments may have brought them vicinal to cate the catalog number of the specimen at ing, flailing, striking, etc.) extremely difficult. foraging ant colonies. the Museum of Zoology, University of Costa This observation suggests that alternate Rica. The fifth individual caught was the behavior strategies may be found in ecto- Submitted by BRENT M. GRAVES, Depart- longest (SVL 141.5, TL 153 cm) specimen of thermic organisms. The "typical" behavior ment of Biological and Environmental Scien L. bicolor that has been recorded anywhere. observed during warm weather may be con- ces, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, The eight Palo Verde snakes were found at, sidered typical only because the is LA 70609, USA. • or near, nests of Ctenosaura similis and most commonly encountered in warm Iguana iguana, whose eggs they are known to weather. During colder weather, when it is more difficult to move, perhaps alternate ELAPHEBAIRDI (Baird's Rat Snake). DRINK- predate (Mora, J. M. 1987. J. Herpetol. behavior such as letisimulation is the most ING BEHAVIOR. On 13 February 1988, at 21:334-335). The nest sites lacked vegetation adaptive behavior. Field and laboratory stud- 1600 h, a captive-bred (hatched July 1985) because of the lizards' burrowing activities. ies of known temperature specimens are male Elaphe bairdi (TL = 136.9 cm, SVL The nests were located in the interface needed to support this hypothesis. 89.54 cm), maintained in a 50.5 x 25 x 30 cm between two types of habitat: fresh water terrarium was accidently splashed with water. swamps, where cattail (Typha domingensis) Submitted by MATTHEW TUCKER, Depart- As beads of water on the snake's head rolled was the dominant vegetation, and the tropical ment of Zoology, State University, down to the upper labial scales, swallowing dry forest. Stillwater, OK 74078, USA • was observed. The water on the labial scales We thank J. Monge and M.I. Di Mare for was drawn into the mouth while it was closed. their help in the preparation of this manu- This behavior lasted 42 sec. script. Financial and logistic support was FLAGELLUM TESTACEUS This behavior was repeated 23 out of 24 provided by the Universidad Nacional, re- (Western Coachwhip). PREDATION. On 18 trials conducted during the next 24 days. The search project #780285 (Wildlife ecology and June 1988, on the northeast bank of the Colo- duration of swallowing was 9-62 sec (X = 35.8, management in Costa Rica), and the Subdi- rado River (35 km south, 24 km west of Cole- N = 25). Swallowing was observed when reccion de Vida Silvestre del Ministerio de man, Coleman County, Texas), we observed water touched the head, even though it did Agricultura y Ganaderia de Costa Rica. a male western coachwhip (SVL = 915 mm, TL not always reach the mouth. During two of = 1149 mm, mass = 190 g without prey items) the trials the snake tilted its head and rubbed Submitted by JOSE M. MORA, Escuela de preying upon a female western rough green its labial scales along its dorsum, sucking Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad Nacional, snake (Opheodrys aestivus majalis; SVL = water droplets off its body. Heredia, Costa Rica (Current address: Depart- 396 mm, TL = 618 mm, mass = 21.2 g). The A bowl of clean water was always present ment of Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Texas encounter lasted 3 h 49 min from when we and the snake has been observed drinking A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, first noticed the snakes at 0940 h. from it. Water falling on the head seems to USA, and ANNY C. CHAVES, Organization We were drawn to the snakes by a rustle in stimulate swallowing regardless of the for Tropical Studies (OTS), Universidad de the vegetation under a pecan tree (Carya illi- snake's hydration state. This may be a Costa Rica, Ciudad Universitaria "Rodrigo noinensis) 7 m from the river. There we stimulus-response behavior that is an adapta- Facio," Costa Rica • observed the coachwhip searching for the tion to living in an arid environment with nearby, slowly-moving green snake. The limited standing water (e.g., west Texas). It MASTICOPHIS FLAGELLUM (Coachwhip). coachwhip sighted the green snake as it was would allow the snake to utilize water in the BEHAVIOR. Masticophis flagellum is a large half-way up a 30 cm cedar elm (Ulmus crassi- form of precipitation or condensation. whipsnake that occurs in relatively warm, dry folia) sapling, and seized its dorsum just ante- More complex variants of this behavior habitats across the southern half of the rior to the cloaca. The green snake reacted by have been observed in the lizards Moloch (Wilson 1973. Catalogue of wrapping its tail around the coachwhip's horridus (Gans and Blumer 1982. Amphibia- American and Reptiles. p 145.1). neck and pulling the rest of its body into the Repti lia 3:57-64), Phrynosoma cornuturn Behler and King (1979. The Audubon Society branches of the cedar elm. After 28 min of (Sherbrooke 1981. Horned Lizards. South- Field Guide to North American Reptiles and occasional tugging by both snakes, the green west Parks and Monuments Assoc.) and F. Amphibians, p 629) noted that Masticophis, snake was released. The green snake imme- douglassii (pers. obs.), and the snakes Bins when cornered, coils and vibrates its tail, and diately crawled to the upper limbs of the peringueyi (Louw 1972. Symp. Zool. Soc. strikes repeatedly, often at the enemy's face. cedar elm sapling. It was seized in the tail Lond. 31:297-314; Robinson and Hughes Death feigning (letisimulation) has not been region after a short, seemingly-frantic search 1978. Ann. Transvaal Mus. 31:189-193), reported in this typically aggressive snake. by the coachwhip. Bothrops asper (Greene 1986. 99-108. In: On 16 April 1988, a large M. flagellum was After 2 h 7 min of repeated seizing of the Predator-Prey Relationships. Univ. Chicago collected by members of the Oklahoma State green snake near the cloaca, the coachwhip Press), and Nerodia fasciata compressicauda University herpetology class near Quartz finally grasped the green snake in the neck (Miller 1985. Herp. Review 16:71). Unlike E. Mountain in Kiowa County, Oklahoma. The region. This was the coachwhip's first grip bairdi, these species have or appear to have snake was found in a mesquite grassland near the head in eight attempts. The green scales modified to collect water. under a piece of corrugated aluminum siding. snake immediately bit the coachwhip on the

72 Herp Review 20(3), 1989