The frequency of body scarring in Caspian Whip Snakes (Dolichophis caspius Gmelin, 1789) in south-western Hungary

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Animals can suffer injuries due to diseases, intraspecific aggression and, most of all, predation events. We present field data to provide numerical information about the injuries found in the largest Caspian Whip Snake (Dolichophis caspius) population in Hungary, near the northernmost portion of the species’ distribution range.

Related collections

Most cited references 11

Record: found
Abstract: not found
Article: not found

REPRODUCTION IN A TYPICAL CAPITAL BREEDER: COSTS, CURRENCIES, AND COMPLICATIONS IN THE ASPIC VIPER

Guy Naulleau, Richard Shine, Olivier Lourdais … (2002)

0 comments Cited 39 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Bumpus in the snake den: effects of sex, size, and body condition on mortality of red-sided garter snakes.

Steven Moore, Tina M. Olsson, David M. LeMaster … (2001)

Huge breeding aggregations of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) at overwintering dens in Manitoba provide a unique opportunity to identify sources of mortality and to clarify factors that influence a snake's vulnerability to these factors. Comparisons of sexes, body sizes, and body condition of more than 1000 dead snakes versus live animals sampled at the same time reveal significant biases. Three primary sources of mortality were identified. Predation by crows, Corvus brachyrhynchos (590 snakes killed), was focussed mostly on small snakes of both sexes. Crows generally removed the snake's liver and left the carcass, but very small snakes were sometimes brought back to the nest. Suffocation beneath massive piles of other snakes within the den (301 dead animals) involved mostly small males and (to a lesser extent) large females; snakes in poor body condition were particularly vulnerable. Many emaciated snakes (n = 142, mostly females) also died without overt injuries, probably due to depleted energy reserves. These biases in vulnerability are readily interpretable from information on behavioral ecology of the snakes. For example, sex biases in mortality reflect differences in postemergence behavior and locomotor capacity, the greater attractiveness of larger females to males, and the high energy costs of reproduction for females.

0 comments Cited 32 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Tail loss, body condition and swimming performances in tiger snakes, Notechis ater occidentalis.

Fabien Aubret, Xavier Bonnet, Stéphanie Maumelat (2005)

In limbless tetrapods such as snakes, propulsive forces are generated by lateral undulations of the body and of the tail. In a large population of tiger snakes from Western Australia, tail loss was extremely common (58% of the individuals) and often very severe (more than two-thirds of the tail was missing in 14% of the cases, and in some instances, the tail was totally lost). Tail loss was not however correlated with body size, mass or body condition of wild individuals, and hence did not influence their abilities to acquire resources. These large venomous snakes exhibit marked aquatic habits. Locomotor tests in controlled conditions revealed that tail loss had a significant negative influence on burst swimming performances. However, no effect was found on routine swimming speed and total distance travelled over 5 min. These results suggest that a long and slender tail, although important for maximal speed, is not necessarily relevant for the locomotor abilities required for successful hunting. Tail-damaged individuals outnumbered intact snakes, suggesting that tail loss did not severely compromise survival. Overall, in this species, a slight deterioration of maximal speed due to severe tail loss probably has a low (undetectable) ecological impact, at least for adults.