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Social Snakes?

Nanci

Nanci

Alien Lover
This is so cool! I watched the little video- hopefully there is a lot of reading to do, too!!

Are snakes social? YES! Do snakes live in groups? SOMETIMES! Are these groups of snakes extended families? Help us find out!

As a reader of this blog, you already know that rattlesnakes are quite gregarious. Their social lives are complex; they recognize and preferentially associate with their siblings, care for their kids, and even help care for their neighbor’s kids. But the big question remains unanswered.

Many of us who monitor rattlesnake dens have speculated that they are composed of closely related individuals. Our goal is to explore this idea by examining relatedness with microsatellite DNA markers. With your help, we will find out if dens really are a rattlesnake family reunion. Our research might reveal a previously undocumented, complex social system in snakes and promote snake conservation by highlighting some very human-like behaviors.

You know you're curious about the relatedness of the snakes you've been reading about here! Check out our project on RocketHub.

And spread the word! This can be just as helpful as a financial contribution.
 
Further down the page there's a video of a mom and her babies on their first day outside. So cute!
 
Yep...I went to the Biology of the Rattlesnakes meeting in July in Tucson and talked to several of the people doing this kind of research. Gives a different view to the co-habbing debates.... :sidestep:
 
Dr. Mohr, I assure you, if I ever feel the need to keep rattlesnakes, I will make sure they have a social life!
 
Nanci said:
Dr. Mohr, I assure you, if I ever feel the need to keep rattlesnakes, I will make sure they have a social life!
Click to expand...

LOL.

I think the more we delve into this DNA of snakes we might find some interesting information on snakes that have gathered under a tin, log, on a basking tree, etc.
 
A friend of mine has 5 Prairie Rattlers, 2.3 ratio, and We've noticed a lot of these kinds of interactions among them, including the babies.
 
This is fantastic information.
I wonder sometimes how social corns are... Although they seem to do better alone, and even attack or kill other corns.
Rattlesnakes fascinate me. I wish they weren't venomous.
Thanks, Nanci!
 
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